Cumulative Anesthesia Exposure Not Linked to Cognitive Impairment

​Although anesthesia in elderly patients has been associated with temporary cognitive impairment immediately following surgery, a study published online January 20, 2016, in Mayo Clinic Proceedings indicates that there are no long-term cognitive effects. The study included 1,732 patients with a median age of 79 years and evaluated their cumulative anesthesia dose and type of procedure for surgeries that took place after 40 years of age. Patients were followed for a median of 4.8 years.