Posted on 10/11/2024 12:35:44 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Multiple surgeries could lead to cognitive decline, a study has found, using data from the United Kingdom's Biobank to analyze half a million patients aged 40 to 69 and followed over 20 years of brain scans, cognitive tests and medical records.
Many families have stories of how repeated surgeries and hospitalizations worsened the reaction time and memory of elderly relatives. Now, a study has revealed multiple surgeries have a small effect on memory, reaction time, task-switching and problem-solving for older patients with each additional surgery.
The study also found brain MRIs of people who had surgeries also showed physical differences in areas of the brain responsible for memory.
As part of the study, patients then underwent brain MRIs and cognitive function testing for signs of neurodegeneration.
The study found that, with each additional surgery, patients' overall reaction time slowed by 0⋅3 milliseconds. Cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, and the ability to remember pictures and numbers also decreased with each additional surgery.
People who had surgeries were also found to have a smaller hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. They also had more evidence of brain damage associated with blocked blood vessels, compared to those who did not undergo repeated surgeries.
Data was pooled from 46,706 people, who all underwent detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and detailed cognition tests.
Participants were tested on their reaction time, memory and ability to think flexibly, by answering a series of language and mathematics questions.
The researchers say future work should focus on understanding the biological inner workings of neurodegeneration. One hypothesis suggests inflammation could be the reason for delayed cognitive recovery after surgery, and understanding how this leads to brain damage will be a key next step.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Different people react variously to drugs. I am allergic to or very sensitive to almost all Rx’s. Probably why I reacted so badly to anestheisa.
Not an eloquent statement medically speaking, but pretty damn accurate.
Not a comforting thought having gone through multiple knee and hip replacement surgeries. I have noticed a decline after each operation and not for the better except for the joints.
I was thinking the other day how knee/hip replace surgeries have become epidemic.
Growing up, I never heard of such.
But, I don’t recall any family members/friends limping, or, complaining of sore knees or hips.
We’re trying to keep ours in good shape, to hopefully avoid said p surgeries.
I tried putting it off as long as I could, but it was getting harder and harder negotiating the ridges during hunting season, climbing/descending stairs and other activities where I finally had to have it checked out. VA covered it all, but and I’m back out again, just a little slower.
I got plugged into the VA, they run you thru multiple clinics and dont seem to cross talk much. This is with everything being ok. I hate being foggy in the brain and specifically anesthesia. I shouldn’t complain too much. My pre VA docs would only ever prescribe was some opioid variant.
I miss hunting big Mulies with my dad. The .54cal Hawken is dusty but I know it will shoot. Good memory.
I just had a hip replacement 2 months ago. Thats an easy one. Almost fun by comparison of others.
But after getting hours of study and practice, they can hit you just in the right spot. And most time ony one hit, sometimes two.
Did you have a fracture?
No idea what reason(s) for hip replacement are.
Hope it is much better and that your healing is going great, too.
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