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General anesthesia in an operation is linked to a "subtle" decline in memory and mental abilities of people over 70, according to a study published by the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota.
Although the observed loss of brain function is low, the study, published in the journal 'British Journal of Anesthesia', maintains that it may be significant for patients who suffer from mild cognitive impairment or their cognitive function They are small.
In older people whose cognitive impairment is on the verge of deterioration, but the symptoms are not clinically evident, exposure to anesthesia can unmask the underlying problems of memory and reasoning.
"We need to make sure that patients who are considering an operation, and their families, are duly informed that there is a risk of cognitive dysfunction," says anesthesiologist and study author. , Juraj Sprung.
According to the Mayo Clinic Specialist, alternative strategies should be discussed with patients before those considered high risk undergo intervention.
The researchers analyzed over 1800 people between the ages of 70 and 89, who underwent assessments every 15 months, taking into account anesthetic interventions in the 20 years preceding the study and those performed after the onset of l & # 39; investigation.
We need to make sure that patients who are considering an operation, and their families, are properly informed that there is a risk of cognitive dysfunction
The researchers found that cognitive decline accelerated slightly after anesthesia, beyond
However, the authors point out that it is not possible to determine whether the cause of the decline was anesthesia, surgery or conditions under -jacentes that required surgery.
On the other hand, according to its authors, the study provides physicians with "more reasons" to perform routine preoperative tests that include the evaluation cognitive elderly, to thereby clarify the individual risk in the event of exposure to the operation.
This suggestion was supported by the American Geriatric Society (AGS, for its acronym in English), a non-profit organization. However, it has not been implemented clinically.
The link between anesthesia and cognitive impairment in the elderly has been a subject widely debated in recent years, after studies with animals
have suggested that exposure to Inhaled anesthetics could be linked to changes in the brain related to Alzheimer's.
However, previous studies with humans have not been able to consistently demonstrate the association between these two factors.
EFE
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