-
Can anesthesia speed up dementia?
I am a 62 year old male. I want to know if anesthesia can speed up dementia?
2 Answers
Not on a long term basis. General anesthesia can cause delirium or agitation after surgery in patients who have underlying dementia. This change in mental status however can resolve within 24-48 hours.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/general-anaesthetics
Short answer: yes