Cognitive Prehabilitation: How Can We Counter Neurocognitive Frailty?

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders are common and concerning complications in older adults undergoing surgery that can manifest as acute or chronic cognitive decline. It is hypothesized that cognitive prehabilitation can prepare the brain for the stress of surgery as for any other organ system. In this mini review we discuss the rationale for using cognitive prehabilitation, some of the interventions that have been assessed, and the effects of these interventions on postoperative cognition. PATIENT SUMMARY: Training the brain before surgery can potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline after surgery in older adults. This mini review discusses some of the trials that examined how to train the brain before surgery and the results from these trials.