Editor's Note

Older women are more likely than older men to have mental decline after general anesthesia, and both men and women had faster declines in mental function and brain volume than those who had no general anesthesia, this study finds.

Mental decline was especially severe in women who had multiple surgical procedures with general anesthesia.

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. Also, more studies are needed to confirm this observation and to identify ways to minimize the effects of surgery and general anesthesia on older adults, she said.