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REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Autonomic Neuroscience
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1508661
Study on the Mechanism of Dexmedetomidine's Effect on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly People
Provisionally accepted- 1 Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- 2 Putuo District Central Hospital, Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication among elderly patients following surgical procedures, significantly impairing postoperative recovery and quality of life. The selection and dosage of intraoperative anaesthetic drugs are frequently implicated as contributing factors in the development of POCD. In recent years, dexmedetomidine (DEX), a novel α2-adrenoceptor agonist, has been increasingly utilized in surgical anaesthesia for elderly patients, showing potential as both a preventive and therapeutic agent for POCD. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current research on the mechanisms by which DEX affects POCD in the elderly. Additionally, it explores DEX's mechanisms of action in the context of neuroprotection, anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress, and the regulation of apoptosis, autophagy, and analgesia. The objective is to provide reliable theoretical support and a reference point for the clinical application of DEX in POCD among the elderly, thereby promoting its broader use in clinical practice to improve outcomes and enhance quality of life.
Keywords: postoperative cognitive dysfunction, Dexmedetomidine, Elderly, mechanisms, effect
Received: 09 Oct 2024; Accepted: 19 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Fan, Bin, Wei and Rong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Wu Wei, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
Chen Wu Rong, Putuo District Central Hospital, Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
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