Certain genes that increase susceptibility to Alzheimer�s disease could also offer a link to why some surgical patients have post-operative brain dysfunction such as confusion or memory loss.  A research group at the University of Pennsylvania says the biomarker, e-4, may play a role in increased risk for brain damage after head injuries or major surgery.  Doctor Andrew Kofke spoke at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting:

�It looks like there�s some 15 to 25 percent or so of patients after non-cardiac surgery who may have problems with their thinking after surgery.  So, we find that this occurs primarily in patients who have this gene then it will lead to a search for a different anesthetics which, hopefully, won�t predispose to this, or it will perhaps give patients information which may affect their decision on whether to have surgery or not.�

The gene occurs in about 20 percent of the population. 

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