To examine these issues, Hippensteel et al. examined N- and 2-O-sulfated heparan sulfate and cognitive impairment in sepsis and found that the presence of circulating 2S-rich BDNF-avid heparan sulfate fragments at the onset of sepsis was associated with cognitive impairment by 2 weeks after ICU discharge. The gene discussed is BDNF; the disease is Cognitive impairment.