Research progress on gut microbiota metabolites and perioperative neurocognitive impairment in elderly surgical patients
DU Peijun
TANG Jia
HUANG Qingqing
SUN Xiaoqin
DAI Xuemei
GONG Gu
WU Wei
YUAN Libang
Abstract：China is undergoing an irreversible transition into an aging society.Due to physiological or pathological declines in brain structure and function among the elderly,cognitive impairment after anesthesia and surgery has become a common postoperative complication in older surgical patients,seriously affecting their postoperative quality of life and long-term prognosis.The gut microbiota,often referred to as the"second brain"of the human body,plays a crucial role in pathological processes through its metabolites.Accumulating evidence indicates that alterations in gut microbiota-derived metabolites can influence cognitive function.Therefore,in-depth investigation into the role of gut microbiota metabolites in the development of perioperative cognitive impairment holds significant scientific and clinical value.This review synthesizes recent research findings to analyze the relationship between gut microbiota metabolites and perioperative cognitive impairment,with the aim of providing insights for clinical prevention and treatment strategies.
Keywords：the elderlygut microbiotamicrobiota-gut-brain axismetabolomeanesthesiapostoperative cognitive complicationsperioperative periodneurocognitive disorders
Publication Date：2026-06-30
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-26(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 903-908 )