REVIEW   

Minerva Anestesiologica 2024 March;90(3):191-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0375-9393.23.17614-0

Copyright © 2023 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Research progress on the association between MicroRNA and postoperative cognitive dysfunction

Yuanping ZHONG, Yu ZHANG, Zhaoqiong ZHU ✉

Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a significant complication following surgery. The precise mechanisms underlying POCD remain elusive, although it is speculated that they involve central nervous system inflammation, oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs widely distributed in eukaryotes, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and could potentially impact POCD. This review explores the association between miRNAs and POCD and provides an overview of the progress of current research on miRNAs in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of POCD.

KEY WORDS: MicroRNAs; Postoperative cognitive complications; Cognition