Microglial Activation Disrupts Hippocampal Memory Consolidation in Aged Mice After Surgery

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium remain significant challenges for clinicians managing elderly patients, with incidences reaching 18.4 percent following elective procedures [1]. These complications are associated with increased mortality, longer hospital stays, and a higher likelihood of discharge to skilled nursing facilities [2, 3]. While various pharmacological strategies, such as dexmedetomidine or specific anesthetic choices, have been explored to mitigate these risks, the underlying pathophysiology of memory-specific deficits remains poorly understood [4, 5]. Because current guidelines often lack the mechanistic specificity required to develop targeted prevention strategies for surgery-induced cognitive decline [6], researchers recently investigated the exact hippocampal circuit disruptions that occur following surgical stress.