Blood Brain Barrier Dysfunction and Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders

The investigators will examine the potential mechanisms contributing to PND in an older surgical population. It is proposed that BBB will be altered contributing to brain tissue changes in cognitive control areas that can be examined with MD measures and blood biomarkers. Therefore, the specific aims are to:

AIM #1: Examine BBB function, using DW-pCASL procedures, and BBB marker (S100β levels), in older adult subjects between pre- ) and post-surgery

AIM #2: Assess brain tissue changes, using DTI-based MD measures, and cognition function, between pre- and post-surgery in older adult subjects.

AIM #3: Examine the relationships between BBB blood biomarker, BBB function index, and MD values from cognitive control areas (prefrontal cortex, caudate, and hippocampus) between pre- and post-surgery in an older surgical population.

A One-group comparative and longitudinal study design will be used in this proposal. A total of 34 older subjects scheduled for surgery will be recruited. Patients of either sex, in the age range 65-75 years scheduled for abdominal, gynecologic or urologic.

To assess cognitive function, the WRAML2 and MoCA tests will be performed within one week before surgery and at two weeks and six months after surgery. These tests have been used by our team in several conditions, and will be introduced just before MRI procedures. An average mean score of 100±15 on WRAML2 and a score ≥26 on MoCA will be considered normal.

Examination of BBB integrity from blood. To account for interindividual variation, baseline systemic biomarkers will be measured preoperatively (within one week before surgery). Postoperative samples will also be collected at two weeks and 6 months of surgery. Samples will be batch analyzed using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (S100β) by the UCLA Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging. All brain MRI studies will be performed on a 3.0-Tesla MRI scanner (Siemens, Magnetom, Prisma) at the Department of Radiology, UCLA. MRI studies will be performed within one week before surgery, and at two weeks and six months after surgery.

Inclusion criteria

• 65-75 years old
• Scheduled for abdominal, gynecologic or urological surgery

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects undergoing surgery with a previous history of stroke, myocardial infarction, current pregnancy (if female), diagnosed neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric diseases, airway or chest deformities that would interfere with breathing, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, presence of space-occupying brain lesions, any history of drug abuse (e.g., cocaine or tobacco use), chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis.
• Body weight >300 pounds (restrictions of MRI scanner table).
• All subjects with any contraindication to the MRI procedures, such as metallic and electronic implants (phrenic or cardiac pacemakers), claustrophobia, metallic-based tattoos, will also be excluded. Non-english speaking patients will also be excluded as the cognitive tests have not been validated in other languages.