(300 WORDS MAX) Each year, more than 200 million patients undergo surgery in the world. About 80% of them will receive general anesthesia. A clinical phenomenon called post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is recognized in recent years and has attracted significant attention from both the public and scientific community. POCD means that the cognitive functions, such as learning and memory, are affected after anesthesia and surgery. Although it is still controversial how long POCD can last, the cognitive functions of the elderly patients (> 60 years) may still be affected at 3 months after anesthesia and surgery. Recently, animal studies have suggested that inflammation in the brain contributes to the development of POCD. In this project, we will determine whether inhibition of brain inflammation can reduce the occurrence of POCD in humans. This study may identify clinically applicable interventions to reduce POCD and to improve the quality of life of patients after anesthesia and surgery.