I came across this article a few days ago, and I take it very seriously, and you should, too. My Dad at the age of 83 had to have surgery for a hernia. He suffered from post-operative delirium and his cognitive deterioration seemed to accelerate after that. Less than a year later he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. At that time a geriatric psychiatrist mentioned to me that for some reason surgery had a “trigger effect” in some people. Later I read about the dangers of isoflurane, often used for anesthesia, and the connection to post-operative delirium and later Alzheimer’s diagnosis in a Boston Globe article.
Now, this article from research in Australia which further suggests that anesthesia is connected to the onset of Alzheimer’s. So, it is extremely important for an elderly person to have an unequivocal need for surgery before going under the knife–the risk of conversion to Alzheimer’s must be weighed against the benefits of surgery.
Article from the Australian National Affairs
Boston Globe article “Breaking through delirium: Hospitals target a common yet serious complication among elderly patientsâ€Â July 6, 2004.
Also see my earlier blog post, First Signs.
As it happens, I go with Mom tomorrow to see her doctor to determine if she requires surgery for a prolapse. Pretty worrisome situation.