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New innovative study measures cognitive function associated with major joint replacement surgery

January 23, 2020

Neurocognitive dysfunction (NCD) is a condition in which a patient’s memory and learning decline after surgery and anesthesia. NCD affects a significant number of patients after major surgery (up to 10%-60% at 3 months); however, the rate of NCD after major joint replacement surgery has not yet been determined. Our innovative study, COGNIGRAM, is addressing this lack of knowledge by measuring cognitive function in patients before and after hip or knee replacement surgery.

Many patients agree to participate in COGNIGRAM due to personal experience with having family or friends who developed cognitive decline following surgery. Recently, The Globe and Mail published an article on silent strokes and cognitive decline in older adults after elective surgery, including hip or knee replacements. Following the release of this article, interest in our study grew as more people were made aware of possible cognitive changes after surgery. This awareness meant that patients were even more eager to participate in COGNIGRAM.

Thank you to all the patients who volunteer to be in our studies here at Sunnybrook!