The Effects of Inhalational Anesthetics on Memory and Cognitive Function

Preclinical studies have shown that exposure of the developing brain to inhalational anesthetics can cause neurotoxicity. However, other studies have claimed that anesthetics can exert neuroprotective effects. We investigated the mechanisms associated with the neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects exerted by inhalational anesthetics. Neuroblastoma cells were exposed to sevoflurane and then cultured in 1% oxygen. We evaluated the expression of proteins related to the unfolded protein response (UPR). Next, we exposed adult mice in which binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) had been mutated, and wild-type mice, to sevoflurane, and evaluated their cognitive function. We compared our results to those from our previous study in which mice were exposed to sevoflurane at the fetal stage. Pre-exposure to sevoflurane reduced the expression of CHOP in neuroblastoma cells exposed to hypoxia. Anesthetic pre-exposure also significantly improved the cognitive function of adult wild-type mice, but not the mutant mice. In contrast, mice exposed to anesthetics during the fetal stage showed cognitive impairment. Our data indicate that exposure to inhalational anesthetics causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and subsequently leads to an adaptive response, the UPR. This response may enhance the capacity of cells to adapt to injuries and improve neuronal function in adult mice, but not in developing mice.

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Brain Exercises Don't Improve General Cognitive Function

Internal Medicine News ◽

10.1016/s1097-8690(10)70488-1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 43 (9) ◽

pp. 45

Author(s):

LEANNE SULLIVAN

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function

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High Migraine Frequency Doesn't Impair Cognitive Function

Clinical Neurology News ◽

10.1016/s1553-3212(11)70156-x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

MICHELE G. SULLIVAN

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Migraine Frequency

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757 Different patterns of disability, cognitive function and quality of life in 1065 elderly heart failure patients treated or not with betablockers: the BRING-UP2 study

European Journal of Heart Failure Supplements ◽

10.1016/s1567-4215(03)90494-2 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 163

Author(s):

D DELSINDACO ◽

G PULIGNANO ◽

L TAVAZZI ◽

M MARINI ◽

L GONZINI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Heart Failure Patients

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Effects of a Group Program to Increase Cognitive Performance Through Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities in Healthy Older Subjects

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000035 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 83-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Valentina A. Tesky ◽

Christian Thiel ◽

Winfried Banzer ◽

Johannes Pantel

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Older Persons ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cognitive Stimulation ◽

Group Program ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Older Subjects

To investigate the effects of leisure activities on cognitive performance of healthy older subjects, an innovative intervention program was developed. Frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., reading, playing chess, or playing music) is associated with reduced risk of dementia. AKTIVA (active cognitive stimulation – prevention in the elderly) is an intervention program designed to enhance cognitive stimulation in everyday life by increasing cognitive stimulating leisure activities. The present study determines the effects of AKTIVA on cognitive function, mood and attitude toward aging in a sample of older participants from the general population. Several measurement instruments were used including the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Initially, the sample consisted of 307 older persons (170 female, 72 ± 7 years). The intervention was evaluated with a randomized, controlled pre-post follow-up design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: AKTIVA intervention (n = 126), AKTIVA intervention plus nutrition and exercise counseling (n = 84), no-intervention control group (n = 97). The AKTIVA intervention consisted of 8 weekly sessions and two booster sessions after a break of 4 months. Participation in the group program resulted in positive effects on cognitive function and attitude toward aging for subassembly groups. Older persons (≥ 75 years) showed enhanced speed of information processing (by TMT Version A) (F = 4.17*, p < .05); younger participants (< 75 years) showed an improvement in subjective memory decline (by MAC-Q) (F = 2.55*, p < .05). Additionally, AKTIVA enhanced the frequency of activities for leisure activities for subassembly groups. The results of this study suggest that the AKTIVA program can be used to increase cognitively stimulating leisure activities in the elderly. Further research is necessary to identify the long-term effects of this intervention particularly with respect to the prevention of dementia.

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