Age affects brain’s response to anesthesia

Anesthesia elicits different patterns of brain waves in the very young and very old, scientists have found. Understanding these distinctions may ultimately lead to brain monitors that could make surgery safer for these vulnerable patient populations. 

These findings are groundbreaking, says neuroanesthesiologist Stacie Deiner of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. The studies explain why brain monitors — typically geared for adults and currently used by some clinicians during surgery — may not work well for the young and the elderly, she says.