MSI Press Blog

  Every few months, a headline circulates claiming that “anesthesia causes permanent memory loss in older adults.” The implication is that anyone over 70 should avoid surgery, avoid colonoscopies, avoid endoscopies, avoid anything that requires sedation. It’s an alarming message — and an oversimplified one. The truth is more nuanced, and far more useful. 1. Anesthesia itself is not the main culprit The grogginess, disorientation, or silly comments people make while waking up from anesthesia are not signs of brain injury. That phase is called emergence , and it clears within minutes to hours. It does not predict long‑term cognitive problems. The research points instead to a different phenomenon: postoperative delirium . 2. Delirium is the real risk factor Delirium is an acute, fluctuating disturbance in attention and awareness. It can appear hours or even days after surgery — long after the anesthetic drugs have worn off. It may be dramatic (agitation, hallucinations) or quiet (with...

  Aging brings many questions about medical care, and colonoscopies are no exception. When should you start them? When should you stop? The answers aren’t as straightforward as you might think, especially when family history, anesthesia risks, and individual health concerns come into play. When to Start and Why? For most people, the recommended age to begin screening for colorectal cancer is 45 (lowered from 50 in recent years due to increasing cases in younger adults). However, if you have a strong family history—like my siblings and I, who all have had pre-cancerous polyps found at each colonoscopy—you may need to start even earlier. Doctors recommend earlier and more frequent screenings if you have: A family history of colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps Certain genetic conditions like Lynch Syndrome A history of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis) When to Stop and Why? Many doctors advise stopping colonoscopies at 75 —but is that t...