Here are four points:
1. Researchers examined the association between exposure to surgery and level of cognitive functioning in 4,299 middle-aged twins younger than 70 and 4,204 elderly twins who were aged 70 or older.
2. Results from cognitive tests of twins who had surgery were compared to the cognitive results of a reference group, comprised of twins who had no surgical procedures.
3. Twins who had undergone major surgery had slightly lower cognitive scores, compared to the reference group, but when compared to their twin, no association was observed.
4. The results suggest that preoperative cognitive functioning and underlying diseases affect cognitive functioning more later in life than surgery and anesthesia.
More articles on anesthesia:
MU update: 5 things anesthesiologists need to know
Premature babies could face anesthesia complications into early adulthood: 4 points
Dr. Sasha Shillcutt wins University of Nebraska Medical Center’s New Investigator Award: 4 things to know
