Alzheimer’s disease patients who undergo orthopedic or other surgeries frequently develop post-surgical delirium, often leading to a poor recovery and a higher risk of dying.
The cause of this acute disruption in the patient’s mental status is largely unknown, but previous studies have suggested a link to some intrinsic response to surgical trauma itself, the multifaceted perioperative environment, and patient-specific factors that altogether contribute to post-surgical delirium.
In a study using mice led by Duke Health researchers, a new finding suggests that inflammation, especially as it impacts the blood-brain barrier in older and more frail subjects, amplifies…
