General Anesthetics and Alzheimer’s Disease (2019)

Posted March 28, 2019

A study of the safety of two common anesthetics, isoflurane and desflurane found that while desflurane is safe in elderly patients, isoflurane could induce cell death and increased levels of amyloid—both prominent in Alzheimer’s pathology. The research provided valuable insight to health care providers and broadened our understanding of the risk factors involved with general anesthesia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Zhongcong Xie, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital