Dr. Miles Berger graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in biochemistry from Columbia University in New York, and then completed his MD and PhD as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the University of California at San Francisco. His graduate work focused on understanding the role of serotonin receptors and other G-protein coupled receptors in pancreatic islet development. Dr. Berger then completed his clinical training in anesthesiology (and neuro-anesthesiology) at Duke University, and has been an Assistant Professor in the Duke Anesthesiology department since 2014.

Dr. Berger and his colleagues study the mechanisms of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and delirium, and whether these disorders are associated with or caused by perioperative changes in Alzheimer’s disease pathways. Dr. Berger and colleagues are also interested in whether delirium or POCD are associated with an increased long term risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Towards these ends, they use a combination of methods including cognitive testing, CSF and blood sampling, perioperative electroencephalography, functional neuroimaging, flow cytometry, and biochemical assays. This work has the potential to improve long term postoperative outcomes for the millions of older patients who undergo anesthesia and surgery each year.

Dr. Berger has received the inaugural William H. Young Award Neuroscience Research award from the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC), a Jahnigen Scholar Award from the American Geriatrics Society and the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research, a Butler-Williams Scholar award from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and an NIA Beeson K76 scholar award.