Perioperative Transcranial Photobiomodulation and Delayed Neurocognitive Recovery in Older Patients

Delayed neurocognitive recovery is a common neurocognitive complication in older patients after surgery, especially those with preoperative neurocognitive decline. Transcranial photobiomodulation therapy is a novel neuromodulation technique using transcranial low-power light to modulate brain biological functions. This technique has been used to treat various neurological or psychiatric conditions, including ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and major depression. This study is designed to explore whether using transcranial photobiomodulation therapy during the perioperative period can reduce the incidence of delayed neurocognitive recovery in older patients with pre-existing neurocognitive impairment.