From Collegiate Presswire's RadioWire (https://www.cpwire.com/radio):

Radio
Gene May Contribute To Post-Operative Brain Dysfunction
Source: NBN/CP RadioWire
Oct 27, 2003, 14:29

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. 

CLICK HERE to download a transcript of this story:
https://www.cpwire.com/click.asp?feature=https://216.86.33.66/brngene.doc

CLICK HERE to download a multimedia (MP3) file of this story:
https://www.cpwire.com/click.asp?feature=https://216.86.33.66/brngene.mp3



© Copyright 2003 Collegiate Presswire, Inc. and NBN/CP RadioWire