In laboratory animals, common inhaled anesthetics increase the number of amyloid plaques in the brains - suggesting acceleration of the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

These were the findings of a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine.

According to Roderic Eckenhoff, MD, Vice Chair of Research in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Anesthesia and critical care:

"This animal study data suggests that we have to at least consider the possibility that anesthetics accelerate certain neurodegenerative disorders. In the field of Alzheimer's research, most effort is focused on delaying, not curing the disease.

A delay in the onset of Alzheimer's disease of only three to five years would be considered a success. Therefore, if commonly used drugs, like anesthetics, are accelerating this disorder, even by a few years, then a similar success might follow even small changes in the care of the operative patient."

Study results have been reported in the Neurobiology of Aging.

Find more details from the full report.

[article abstract]

[Photo Credit: University of Michigan Health System]