General Anesthesia Is Not a Risk Factor for Dementia in Older Adults

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found general anesthesia does not affect cognitive function in older adults, reports the Health Mania . Researchers analyzed data from 7,499 patients, minimum age 66, who went under for surgery between 2007 and 2011. Checks of follow-up medical records indicated no connection between dementia and general anesthesia, and those given regional anesthesia had similar outcomes. These findings suggest the choice of anesthetic on older patients for any elective surgeries does not elevate their vulnerability to dementia, Alzheimer's, or any related disease as they age.