Do anesthetics affect memory?

This is the 4801st article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

On a sunny morning, Aunt Zhang walked into the hospital to undergo a minor operation. She nervously held the medical records in her hand, thinking: "Will this operation make me forget important things?" It turned out that Aunt Zhang heard from her neighbor Lao Liu that anesthetics can affect memory, and she was worried that she would forget her home password, bank card number, and even her own children after the operation.

In fact, it is not just Aunt Zhang who has this worry. Many people, in addition to worrying about the pain, will raise a question when facing an upcoming surgery: Will anesthetics affect my memory? The answer to this question is not a simple "yes" or "no". Today we will popularize this question and see what the relationship is between anesthetics and memory.

First, let's understand the basic working principle of anesthetics. Anesthetics are a class of drugs that can affect the function of the nervous system. They bind to certain receptors in the brain and change the way nerve signals are transmitted, thereby reducing or eliminating pain and causing people to lose consciousness. There are many types of anesthetics, including local anesthetics, regional anesthetics, and general anesthetics, and their range of action and effects vary.

Local and regional anesthetics act mainly on specific neural areas and have little effect on the whole body, so these drugs usually do not have a significant effect on memory. In contrast, general anesthetics mainly inhibit the activity of the cerebral cortex, causing people to lose consciousness and perception. This inhibitory state may cause changes in the synaptic structure of neurons, thereby affecting the formation and storage of memory.

There are currently inconsistent results from scientific studies on the effects of general anesthetics on memory. Some studies have shown that general anesthetics may cause short-term memory loss, but this effect is usually reversible and will gradually recover over time. Other studies have found that long-term or repeated use of general anesthetics may increase the risk of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, but these studies need further confirmation.

In addition to the type of drug and the time of use, the effect of anesthetics on memory may also be affected by other factors. For example, the patient's age, health status, type of surgery, etc. may affect the effect and side effects of anesthetics. Therefore, when choosing to use anesthetics, doctors need to make comprehensive considerations based on the patient's specific situation and weigh the pros and cons.

Of course, we don't have to worry too much about the effect of anesthetics on memory. In fact, anesthetics play an important role in modern medicine. They have brought safety and comfort to countless patients during surgery. Although anesthetics may have a certain impact on memory, this effect is usually temporary and reversible, and doctors will conduct detailed management based on the patient's specific situation to minimize the occurrence of side effects.

Back to Aunt Zhang's story, she did not forget her home password and bank card number after the operation, nor did she forget her biological child. On the contrary, she recovered quickly after the operation and soon returned to her normal life. Of course, she also learned to stay calm and rational when facing unknown things, and no longer easily believe in statements without scientific basis.

The effect of anesthetics on memory is a complex issue involving multiple factors and mechanisms. As patients and family members, we need to maintain a rational and scientific attitude, understand the risks and benefits of anesthetics, and fully communicate and exchange with doctors. Only in this way can we better cope with the challenges brought by surgery and anesthesia and protect our health.

Author: Hematology Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Wang Hailong