Anaesthetics and Alzheimer’s disease-type symptoms

'Around ten percent of people who are given anaesthetic for major surgery experience 'post-operative cognitive decline.'

This involves lasting problems with their memory and attention, but it is not yet clear whether this decline may increase a person risk of Alzheimer's disease.

This latest study, conducted on cell cultures, suggests a common anaesthetic may increase the production of amyloid-beta, the protein associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease, and the death of brain cells.

It is crucial that more work is now done to establish whether this same reaction can occur in the human brain. The potential link between anaesthetic and Alzheimer's is hugely important and further research and funding to investigate these concerns is now urgently needed.

If people are concerned about this issue they should discuss it with their consultant, rather than postpone any surgery.'

Dr Susanne Sorensen
Head of Research
Alzheimer's Society