RTA‐408 improved propofol‐induced cognitive impairment in neonatal mice via enhancing survival of neurons, reducing the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons, mitigating the inflammation and oxidative stress, which may be correlated with the activation of Nrf2 and the inhibition of NF‐κB p65 nuclear translocation. This evidence concerns the gene NFKB1 and Cognitive impairment.