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Could staying active before surgery help prevent postoperative delirium?

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Could staying active before surgery help prevent postoperative delirium?

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Staying active before surgery may do more than strengthen the body for recovery—it may protect the brain. Regular physical activity at least seven times a week before cancer surgery was linked to a lower risk of developing postoperative delirium, according to research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting.

Postoperative delirium is a sudden state of confusion that affects about 20% of patients undergoing surgery. It is especially common in older adults and can affect attention, memory and thinking. It is also linked to longer hospital stays, delayed recovery and increased risk of death.

"People may realize that exercise before surgery can help their bodies recover more quickly, but our study also shows that it may protect the brain," said Melody Haratian, B.S., lead author of the study and a medical student at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa.

"Preparing for surgery starts before the day of the operation," said Jeffrey Huang, M.D., FASA, senior author of the study and professor of oncological science and senior member of anesthesiology at Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa. "Patients should ask their care team about safe ways to stay active and whether a prehabilitation program could help them prepare for surgery and recover faster."

The retrospective, matched, case-control study included 258 patients who had cancer tumor removal surgery between 2024 and 2025: 64 who developed postoperative delirium and 194 who did not.


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