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Before you're admitted to a hospital for surgery or another procedure, you probably think about what to do (or what to avoid doing) and what to bring (or not bring) to optimize your comfort, safety and the treatment results. That's all well and good, but there's an emerging consideration that may not be on your radar screen: Taking precautions to prevent delirium — sudden change in your thinking, mood or behavior — from occurring while you're there.
Admittedly, delirium can strike someone at any age, but it's most common among older adults, affecting as many as 50 percent of people 65-plus following a hospital admission in the U.S., according to the just-released Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) report.
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Fortunately, the condition is preventable in as many as 40 percent of cases. But “right now we do not inform older patients when they come for surgery that delirium or post-operative cognitive decline is a possible complication,” says Roderic Eckenhoff, M.D., Austin Lamont Professor of Anesthesia and vice chair for research and faculty development at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. There's a move to make this notification mandatory — and to encourage people to take simple steps to reduce their risk of getting delirium and protect their brain health for the long haul.
In the meantime, here's what you should do.
Before you go to the hospital
Health care providers are increasingly recommending prehabilitation (aka prehab) for any planned hospitalization, which is basically like rehabilitation that's performed before a surgical procedure rather than after. The idea is to prepare for surgery as if you are training for a sporting event by building up your physical and mental stamina and resilience. “Physical and cognitive health are linked — if your cardiovascular function improves, then your cognitive health may improve,” Eckenhoff says.
Read the latest reports from AARP's Global Council on Brain Health
The key components of prehab include improving cardiovascular and muscle strength and endurance with regular exercise that's appropriate for your condition; sticking with a balanced, healthy diet; curbing your alcohol intake; staying well-hydrated; avoiding smoking; and getting plenty of good, quality sleep (at least eight hours per night). All of these measures contribute to improving circulation, reducing systemic inflammation and promoting a healthy microbiome, each of which is beneficial for brain health, Eckenhoff notes.
More From AARP
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