Dexmedetomidine promotes the recovery of neurogenesis in aged mouse with postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

•Dexmedetomidine prevented POCD following surgery in aged mice with promoted neurogenesis and decreased inflammation.•Dexmedetomidine increased the percentage of DCX-positive neuron while reducing inflammatory IL-1β and TNF-α.•The regulation of BDNF, CREB and proteins of PKA and p38-MPAK production could be the crucial factors in this process.