Newswise — DURHAM, N.C. – Cognitive changes following non-neurologic and non-cardiac surgery were not associated with changes in Alzheimer’s disease-related biomarkers in older patients, according to a study led by a team at Duke University School of Medicine.
The finding, published online in the journal Annals of Clinical & Translational Neurology, could help ease concerns that Alzheimer’s disease risk might be increased by major surgeries and/or general anesthesia.
“There has been evidence from other studies of cognitive decline following anesthesia and surgery, and laboratory studies have found that anesthetic drugs and surgical stress accelerate underlying pathways of Alzheimer’s disease,” said lead author Miles Berger, M.D., an associate professor in Duke’s Department of Anesthesiology.
“However, in over 100 patients undergoing a wide variety of major surgery…
