Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Improving Anesthesia Protocols for Enhanced Mouse Acupuncture Research
Published on: December 8, 2023
Anaesthesia as a risk factor for long-term cognitive decline: Results of the prospective MAAS cohort study
Christoph H Pennings1, Martin Van Boxtel, Dianne De Korte-De Boer
1From the Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Division for Acute and Critical Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands (CHP, DDeK-DeB, CJV), School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands (MVB), and Department of Anaesthesiology, Division of Vital Functions, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands (WB).
Background:
There are concerns whether (repeated) exposure to general anaesthesia is associated with long-term cognitive decline.
Objective:
We investigated the potential, negative relationship between total exposure to surgery under general anaesthesia and its impact on long-term cognitive development.
Design:
A prospective longitudinal cohort study.
Setting:
The Netherlands.
Participants:
1823 Adults, aged 25-84 with normal cognitive functioning on inclusion with three serial cognitive assessments between 1995 and 2008, with comprehensive documentation on demographic, lifestyle, and health factors.
Main Outcome Measures:
The primary outcomes were test scores in the cognitive domains of learning and memory, executive function, selective attention, mental speed, and information processing speed. Linear mixed models were used to analyse the effects of the estimated total time under general anaesthesia at baseline on cognitive development during a 12-year follow-up period.
Results:
When adjusting for demographic and systemic health-related factors, prolonged exposure to surgery under general anaesthesia (measured in total baseline minutes) negatively affected three cognitive domains. These included the CST (executive functioning, P < 0.05), Stroop (selective attention and mental speed, P < 0.001) and LDST (information processing speed, P < 0.005). Age and education were the primary factors impacting lifetime cognitive decline. Hypertension, diabetes, and smoking negatively affected various cognitive domains.
Conclusion:
Increased exposure to surgery under general anaesthesia independently contributes to long-term cognitive decline. Demographic variables and health-related factors are key contributors to accelerated cognitive decline over an individual's lifetime.
More Related Videos
05:19A Mouse Model for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Based on Needle-guided Asymmetric Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: November 22, 2024
07:07Analysis of Learning and Memory Ability in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model using the Morris Water Maze
Published on: October 29, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:13Amnesia
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
01:22Stages of General Anesthesia
01:24General Anesthesia: Overview
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...