With longevity, postoperative cognitive decline in the elderly has emerged as a major health concern for which several factors have been implicated, one of the most recent being the role of anaesthetics. Interactions of anaesthetic agents and different targets have been studied at the molecular, cellular and structural anatomical levels. Recent in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have shown that several anaesthetics act on the oligomerisation of amyloid beta peptide. Uncontrolled production, oligomerisation and deposition of amyloid beta peptide, with subsequent development of amyloid plaques, are fundamental steps in the generation of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid beta peptide is naturally present in the central nervous system, and is found at higher tissue concentrations in the elderly. We argue that administering certain general anaesthetics to elderly patients may worsen amyloid beta peptide oligomerisation and deposition and thus increase the risk of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this review is to highlight the clinical aspects of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and to find plausible links between possible anaesthetic effects and the molecular pathological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease. It is hoped that our hypothesis will stimulate further enquiry, especially triggering research into elucidating those anaesthetics that may be more suitable when cognitive dysfunction is a particular concern.

Anaesthetics and postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a pathological mechanism mimicking Alzheimer's disease

FODALE, Vincenzo;SANTAMARIA, Letterio;
2010-01-01

Abstract

With longevity, postoperative cognitive decline in the elderly has emerged as a major health concern for which several factors have been implicated, one of the most recent being the role of anaesthetics. Interactions of anaesthetic agents and different targets have been studied at the molecular, cellular and structural anatomical levels. Recent in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have shown that several anaesthetics act on the oligomerisation of amyloid beta peptide. Uncontrolled production, oligomerisation and deposition of amyloid beta peptide, with subsequent development of amyloid plaques, are fundamental steps in the generation of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid beta peptide is naturally present in the central nervous system, and is found at higher tissue concentrations in the elderly. We argue that administering certain general anaesthetics to elderly patients may worsen amyloid beta peptide oligomerisation and deposition and thus increase the risk of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this review is to highlight the clinical aspects of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and to find plausible links between possible anaesthetic effects and the molecular pathological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease. It is hoped that our hypothesis will stimulate further enquiry, especially triggering research into elucidating those anaesthetics that may be more suitable when cognitive dysfunction is a particular concern.
2010
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/2367093
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 35
  • Scopus 134
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 114
social impact