Older women are much more likely than men to suffer brain dysfunction after surgery with general anesthesia, a new study finds. Researchers who analyzed data from hundreds of older adults in the United States found faster declines in mental function and brain volume for both women and men who had surgery with general anesthesia compared to those who had no surgery. But the long-term decline was much greater in women than in men. The mental fall-off was especially severe among women who had multiple surgeries with general anesthesia, the researchers said.
"This is one of the first studies to suggest that among older adults, women are at a higher risk for post-operative brain dysfunction than men," study author Dr. Katie Schenning of Oregon Health & Science University, said in an association news release. "Our research clearly shows an association between surgery, general anesthesia and…
