Epigenetic Mechanisms of Postoperative Cognitive Impairment Induced by Anesthesia and Neuroinflammation.

ABSTRACT: Cognitive impairment after surgery is a common problem, affects mainly the elderly, and can be divided into postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Both phenomena are accompanied by neuroinflammation; however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment after anesthesia are not yet fully understood. Anesthesiological drugs can have a longer-term influence on protein transcription, thus, epigenetics is a possible mechanism that impacts on cognitive function. Epigenetic mechanisms may be responsible for long-lasting effects and may implicate novel therapeutic approaches. Hence, we here summarize the existing literature connecting postoperative cognitive impairment to anesthesia. It becomes clear that anesthetics alter the expression of DNA and his

SUBMITTER: Rump K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9563723 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature