What We Know and Don't Know About Memory Loss After Surgery

Many older adults develop postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after surgical intervention, and the symptoms can range from memory problems to difficulty multitasking and gaining new knowledge to problems following multistep procedures or setting priorities, reports Kaiser Health News . In most cases, POCD is temporary and people recover in several months; in other circumstances, POCD persists up to a year or longer. A document outlining standard definitions for POCD is expected to be published simultaneously in six scientific journals in June, while researchers will discuss the latest developments at a two-day summit. A simple test for POCD does not currently exist. Usually, a series of neuropsychological tests are administered before and after surgery, and they frequently are given one week and again three months following surgery. However, the tests used and time frames differ in various studies. Studies also classify POCD differently, using varying criteria to evaluate the kind and extent of cognitive impairment that people experience. Different studies produce different estimates of the POCD population, while the risk of developing POCD after surgery is exacerbated in people who are older, have low levels of education, and cognitive concerns that predate surgery. Adults age 60 and older are twice as likely to experience POCD as younger adults.