New Research Shows Playing Brain Games Before Surgery May Lower Risk Of Postoperative Delirium in Older Adults

New research shows playing brain games prior to surgery may lower the odds of postoperative delirium among older adults, reports CBS Miami . Investigators at Ohio State University's (OSU) Wexner Medical Center studied people who engaged in preoperative exercises focusing on memory, speed, attention, and problem solving. Older patients who have some cognitive deficits before surgery, even mild ones, are at a significantly higher risk of developing postoperative delirium. Individuals who played such exercises five to 10 hours in the days leading up to their procedure cut their risk of delirium after surgery by more than half. "We did have some evidence come out of the data that show that the more brain exercise you do, the better your risk reduction is," said OSU's Michelle Humeidan.