Perioperative evaluation of brain health

Abstract

The occurrence of cognitive changes in patients following anesthesia and surgery has been acknowledged for over a century.1 It is estimated that by 2030, the number of overall surgical procedures in two-thirds of the world’s countries will reach over 5000 surgeries per 100,000 population.2 In addition to the general rise in the global surgical needs, the population is experiencing an aging transformation, which increases the proportion of frail people whose mental health is at risk of being compromised. It is estimated that by 2050, one-fifth of the global population will be aged 65 or above, and that around of 80% of older adults will reside in low-to-middle income countries.