I hope I'm worrying unnecessarily, but I remember reading on here about general anaesthetic coming with a risk of permanently worsening dementia. Does anyone know how likely this is? My mother has broken her hip, and is due for surgery tomorrow. There really isn't any choice, as it's not the sort of thing that can be done under local anaesthetic, and she can't be left as she is. My concerns aren't helped by the fact that she's been in hospital a couple of times recently, and both times quickly became completely delusional, although normally she can be quite sensible, though her memory is shot, and she can't make anything work. How would I be able to distinguish between any effects of the anaesthetic and the effects of being in hospital which would hopefully wear off? I know the obvious answer to that one is wait and see, but I can't help worrying! Advice from anyone with any experience of this, reassuring or not, would be helpful.