Evidence mapPaperPMID 42100263Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in medicine2026

From neuroinflammation to neuroprotection: a bibliometric analysis of anesthesia-associated postoperative cognitive dysfunction to guide clinical research (2000-2024).

Xingcen Wang, Zhiwei Yang, Ting Tang, Huijuan Huang, Jianzhi Shi, Jie He, Hua Zhang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xingcen WangDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Zhiwei YangDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Ting TangDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Huijuan HuangDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Jianzhi ShiDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Jie HeDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Hua ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a common complication following anesthesia and surgery, particularly in elderly patients, yet its pathophysiology and optimal prevention strategies remain incompletely understood. This study employs bibliometric methods to analyze research trends in anesthesia-associated POCD from 2000 to 2024. Methods: A systematic review of 923 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection, cross-validated with the PubMed database, was conducted. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the R package "bibliometrix," VOSviewer, and CiteSpace to evaluate publication trends, key contributors, collaborative networks, co-citation patterns, and keyword evolution. Results: Research output has grown steadily since 2000, with notable acceleration after 2018. The United States leads in productivity and influence, followed by China and Germany. Duke University is the most prolific institution. The British Journal of Anaesthesia and Anesthesiology are the core journals in this field. Keyword analysis reveals an evolution from early focus on surgical types and cognitive assessment toward neuroinflammation as the central pathological mechanism, with increasing attention to the delirium-POCD continuum, anesthetic optimization, and multimodal prevention. Emerging frontiers include the intersection of POCD with Alzheimer's disease pathology, the role of the gut-brain axis, and the translation of mechanistic insights into targeted neuroprotective strategies. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis delineates the evolution of POCD research from descriptive epidemiology to mechanistic and translational inquiry. Neuroinflammation has emerged as the unifying pathological hub. Key challenges include heterogeneity in diagnostic criteria, difficulty isolating anesthesia effects from surgical trauma, and the gap between preclinical findings and clinical efficacy. Future research priorities should focus on harmonizing diagnostic standards, validating biomarkers, and conducting large-scale multi-center trials to translate mechanistic discoveries into perioperative brain health strategies.

Indexed as

anesthesiabibliometric analysishotspotsneuroinflammationperioperative neurocognitive disordersPOCDpostoperative cognitive dysfunctionresearch trends

Identifiers

PMID42100263
PMCPMC13148032

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.