February 1, 2026

If you have heard of MTHFR, you probably think of it as the gene that matters for health. Maybe you learned you carry a variant and were told to take methylated B-vitamins. Maybe someone mentioned it in the context of detoxification. And if you are facing surgery, you may have wondered: does this affect how I recover from anesthesia?

If you have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), you’ve probably heard conflicting messages about surgery. Some doctors seem worried. Others dismiss your concerns. You’ve read stories online that range from catastrophic to surprisingly uneventful.

If you’re a woman in your late 30s to early 50s facing surgery, there’s something important your surgical team probably won’t mention: your hormones are changing in ways that can make anesthesia recovery harder.

Understanding Postoperative Delirium, Building Cognitive Reserve, and Protecting Your Brain Before Major Surgery By Sande Bargeron | Neuro Resilience Expert & Brain Health Optimization Specialist.