Abstract

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication of the central nervous system in elderly patients after operation. It will prolong the length of stay, reduce the independence and quality of daily life, and increase the risk of death. However, at present, there is a lack of safe and effective ideal drugs for the prevention and treatment of POCD. Melatonin is one of the hormones secreted by the pineal gland of the brain, which has the functions of regulating circadian rhythm, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis, and so on. Some recent studies have shown that MT can prevent and treat POCD by adjusting circadian rhythm, restoring cholinergic system function, neuroprotection, and so on. This article will introduce POCD, melatonin and the mechanism of melatonin on POCD, respectively, to provide a basis for clinical prevention and treatment of POCD in the elderly.

MeSH

Circadian Rhythm, Aged, Melatonin, Research, Cognitive Dysfunction, Postoperative Cognitive Complications

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• Postoperative neurocognitive disorders in ambulatory surgery: a narrative review. Korean J Anesthesiol, 2024
• PKM2 accelerated the progression of chronic fatigue syndrome via promoting the H4K12la/ NF-κB induced neuroinflammation and mitochondrial damage. Sci Rep, 2025
• The impact of postoperative pain interventions on circadian rhythm disruptions: mechanisms and clinical implications. Front Neurosci, 2025