Anesthesia No Threat For Long-Term Dementia

Health & Wellness

Anesthesia No Threat For Long-Term Dementia

By
Joel Streed

April 29, 2013

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that elderly patients who receive anesthesia are no more likely to develop long-term dementia or Alzheimer’s disease than other seniors. Pediatric anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, David Warner, M.D., says, “It’s reassuring we’re adding to the body of knowledge that there is not an association of anesthesia and surgery with Alzheimer’s.” The study analyzed thousands of patients using the Rochester Epidemiology Project — which allows researchers access to medical records of nearly all residents of Olmsted County, Minn. — and found that receiving general anesthesia for procedures after age 45 is not a risk factor for developing dementia. The findings are online in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Click here to read news release

Sound bites with Dr. Warner are available in the downloads

Expert title for broadcast cg: Dr. David Warner, Mayo Clinic Anesthesiologist