Alzheimer's risk in ops.

SOME general anaesthetics may increase the risk of elderly patients getting Alzheimer's, research suggests.

Lab and animal tests showed drugs like isoflurane and propofol - used in Europe and the US - may encourage the formation of protein clumps in the brain that are linked to the disease.

University of Pittsburgh scientists found that halothane - more common in Asia and Africa because of its cheapness - could trigger the memory-inhibiting clumps even faster.

With many old folk reportedly changing behaviour after surgery Dr Pravat Mandal, who led the study, told New Scientist: "The focus should now be on using an anaesthetic that does not have such effects."