Frontiers in neurology
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2013
Long-term effects of neonatal single or multiple isoflurane exposures on spatial memory in rats.
General anesthetics are neurotoxic to neonatal rodents and non-human primates. Neonatal exposure to general anesthetics has been associated with long-term cognitive deficits in animal models. Some data from humans are consistent with long-term deleterious effects of anesthetic exposure early in life on cognitive development, with multiple exposures to general anesthetics being particularly damaging. ⋯ Male rats that received a single exposure to isoflurane showed an unexpected facilitation in spatial memory performance. These results support the hypothesis that multiple neonatal exposures to general anesthesia are associated with greater long-term cognitive impairment than a single exposure. The findings are congruent with human epidemiological studies reporting long-term cognitive impairments following multiple but not single general anesthetics early in life.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2013
Stroke prevention and cognitive reserve: emerging approaches to modifying risk and delaying onset of dementia.
Demographic changes and improvements in health care are projected to result in dramatic increases in the prevalence of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is widely considered to be the primary cause of dementia - a disease for which there is currently no cure nor effective treatment, and for which it is thought that little can be done to mitigate risk. ⋯ We also describe how active stimulation of the brain throughout the life course builds cognitive reserve that can offset or compensate for cognitive decline in later life. Finally, we discuss the implications of these emerging approaches for dementia prevention and advocate for the urgent implementation of more extensive public health strategies to improve vascular health.