Cohort Study to Investigate the Association Between Changes in Brain Volume and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction

Despite an ongoing controversy in the scientific literature, the link between anesthesia and dementia and/or cerebral atrophy remains unclear. Recent retrospective data suggests an association of surgery with a reduction in brain volume. With the present prospective cohort study, we would like to reproduce and verify these results, and investigate a possible association with the postoperative cognitive performance. We will measure cerebral gray matter volumes in elderly patients before, 3 and 12 months after major non-cardiac surgery and determine cognitive functions at the same time. Study hypothesis: 1. Surgery under general anesthesia in elderly patients is associated with a loss of gray matter. 2. The degree of cognitive dysfunction is associated with the loss of grey matter in brain areas relevant for cognitive functions.