JNK inhibition alleviates delayed neurocognitive recovery after surgery by limiting microglia pyroptosis

•Delayed neurocognitive recovery is a prevalent cognitive disorder following surgery.•Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the etiology of delayed neurocognitive recovery.•Microglia are vital mediators in the initiation and progression of neuroinflammation.•Pyroptosis is a type of inflammatory cell death that contributes to neuroinflammation.•The JNK pathway is crucial for pyroptosis-mediated inflammatory responses.