How to Prepare Your Brain for Surgery: What No One Tells You | Sandra Bargeron

271: In this episode, I'm sitting down with anesthetist and physician assistant Sandra Bargeron to explore an often-overlooked aspect of surgery: protecting your brain. Did you know that anesthesia is a neurological stress test of your brain? We discuss how anesthesia, frailty, muscle mass, and metabolic health can all influence your recovery, and why preparing for surgery should begin long before you enter the operating room. We talk about the difference between postoperative delirium and dementia, why resilience matters more than age, and the practical strategies that can help support better surgical outcomes and long-term brain health. Topics Discussed: → Preparing your brain before surgery → Anesthesia & cognitive health → Delirium, dementia & brain recovery → Frailty, muscle & resilience → Menopause & surgical outcomes → Lifestyle strategies for better recovery Sponsored By: → KION | Visit https://getkion.com/drtyna for 20% off → LMNT | Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/drtyna. Find your favorite LMNT flavor, or share with a friend. → BIOptimizers | Head to https://bioptimizers.com/drtyna and use code DRTYNA for 15% off your order plus a FREE travel-size bottle of MassZymes (a $20 value) while supplies last. →  Fatty15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to help support your long-term health and wellness - especially as you age. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DRTYNA and using code DRTYNA at checkout.  MEGAPHONE  On This Episode We Cover:  → 00:00:00 - Introduction → 00:01:47 - Why anesthesia is different than most people think → 00:06:12 - Understanding the real risks of anesthesia → 00:10:08 - How anesthesia affects brain health & cognition → 00:15:21 - Why resilience matters more than age → 00:20:45 - Frailty, muscle & surgical outcomes → 00:26:34 - The neurologic stress response explained → 00:32:45 - Delirium vs. dementia after surgery → 00:37:48 - How to prepare your brain before surgery → 00:40:06 - The gap in postoperative brain care → 00:44:36 - Why surgery should be treated like athletic training → 00:47:12 - The Neurologic Stress & Recovery Index (NSRI) → 00:50:34 - Muscle, metabolism & building resilience → 00:53:58 - Why metabolic health improves recovery → 00:58:08 - Lifestyle habits that support brain health → 01:03:00 - Menopause, neurodivergence & anesthesia risks → 01:08:18 - Sleep, medications & optimizing recovery → 01:12:36 - How to advocate for yourself before surgery → 01:16:08 - Final takeaways Further Listening:  → Muscle, Protein & Perimenopause: The Truth About Midlife Weight Gain | KION Check Out Sandra Bargeron:  → Instagram  → Website  → Book → Neurologic Stress & Recovery Index (NSRI) Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided in this podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided in this blog/podcast and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Tyna Moore. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.