Wellcome Leap

Project Overview

Older adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are at increased risk of poor recovery and complications due to age-related immune changes. These changes can lead to exaggerated stress responses, affecting recovery and organ function. Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), a natural metabolite with protective properties, may help reduce these negative effects and improve resilience during surgery.

The double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial will involve 250 older adults at Singapore’s National University Hospital and National Heart Centre, Singapore General Hospital. Participants will receive either 1000 mg of AKG daily or a placebo for four weeks before surgery until 90 days after, excluding the surgery day. The trial will maintain standard perioperative care for all participants. The primary goal is to assess if AKG can improve resilience by reducing immune dysfunction. Secondary outcomes include changes in frailty, cognition, recovery, surgical complications, clinical outcomes, and microbiome changes, with blood biomarkers and clinical parameters analyzed at various times. The trial seeks to identify predictors of poor recovery and evaluate if a geroprotective intervention can enhance surgical outcomes in aging patients.