Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026

A Mouse Model of Orthopedic Surgery to Study Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Tissue Regeneration
Published on: February 27, 2018
Cognitive and brain reserve and the risk of postoperative delirium in older patients: analysis of data from a
Jane S Saczynski1, Sharon K Inouye2, Cyrus Kosar3
1Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA ; Aging Brain Center, Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA.
Background:
Cognitive and brain reserve theories suggest that aspects of neural architecture or cognitive processes modify the effect of neuropathological processes on cognitive outcomes. Although frequently studied in the context of dementia, reserve in delirium is understudied.
Methods:
Using data from a prospective observational study, we examined the association of three markers of brain reserve (head circumference, MRI-derived brain volume, and leisure time physical activity), five markers of cognitive reserve (education, vocabulary, cognitive activities, cognitive demand of lifetime occupation, and interpersonal demand of lifetime occupation), and the risk of postoperative delirium in 566 older adults (age ≥70 years) free of dementia undergoing scheduled surgery.
Findings:
135 (24%) of 566 patients developed delirium during the postoperative hospital stay. Of the reserve markers examined, only the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading was associated with the risk of delirium. A 0·5 SD better performance on the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading was associated with a 38% reduction in delirium risk (adjusted risk ratio of 0·62, 95% CI 0·45-0·85; p=0·01).
Interpretation:
Most markers of reserve failed to predict delirium risk. The exception to this is the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading. Our findings suggest that the reserve markers that are important for delirium might be different from those thought to be important for dementia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

