Anesthetics and its Impact on the Brain and Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by accumulation and aggregation of amyloid(A ) peptides and hyperphosphorylated tau, neuronal death, and consequent progressive impairment of cognitive functions. AD is the main cause of dementia today in the geriatric population, and the World Health Organization estimates over 18 million people worldwide presently suffer from the disease [1]. In addition, anywhere between 0.5% to 32% of the aged population is likely to be suffering from amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), the clinical prodrome to AD [2]. Individuals with aMCI are at high risk for developing AD, with a progression rate of 10% to 15% per year [2]. With such a substantial percentage of the aging population being affected by AD, it is likely that in the coming years anesthetists will encounter an ever increasing number of patients with AD and aMCI. Anesthesia can be broadly categorized into local, regional, and general anesthesia. These anesthesia techniques can be induced by different types of anesthetic agents, e.g., intravenous (iv) such as propofol, and inhaled such as sevoflurane. General anesthesia often involves the usage of combination of these