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Updated: May 21, 2026
08:17
A Mouse Model of Orthopedic Surgery to Study Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Tissue Regeneration
Published on: February 27, 2018
Anesthesia, surgery, illness and Alzheimer's disease
Roderic G Eckenhoff1, Krzysztof F Laudansky
1Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Summary
Surgery and anesthesia can cause lasting cognitive changes, especially in older adults or those with neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammatory processes may link these effects, suggesting potential therapies to protect the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Subtle cognitive changes after surgery have long been observed by patients and families.
- Recent scientific inquiry is investigating the link between surgery, anesthesia, and cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the durable consequences of anesthesia and surgery on cognition.
- To explore the intersection of these consequences with aging and neurodegeneration.
- To identify potential therapeutic strategies targeting underlying mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective human studies.
- Prospective biomarker studies.
- Animal experiments.
Main Results:
- Durable cognitive consequences of anesthesia and surgery are confirmed.
- These consequences interact with normal aging and chronic neurodegeneration.
- Inflammatory cascades are implicated as a key mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Surgery and anesthesia can lead to lasting cognitive impairment.
- These effects are exacerbated in aging and neurodegenerative conditions.
- Targeting inflammation may offer a therapeutic approach to mitigate neuropathology in at-risk surgical patients.
Keywords:
3xTgADADNIADRCARDSAlzheimer Disease Neuro ImagingAlzheimer Disease Research CenterAlzheimer transgenic miceBiomarkersCABGCSFCytokinesIL-10IL-4IL-6Interleukin-10Interleukin-4Interleukin-6LFA-1αMCINSAIDNeuroinflammationPOCDPeripheral inflammationSAETGFβTNFαTumor Necrosis Factor-αWTadult respiratory distress syndromecerebrospinal fluidcoronary artery bypass surgeryleukocyte functional antigen-1αmild cognitive impairmentnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugspost-operative cognitive declinesepsis associated encephalopathytransforming growth factor-βtriple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer diseasewild type
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