Mitochondria dysfunction is one of the key pathogenic factors implicated in postoperative cognitive disorder and POD.3,4 PGC-1α serves as a master regulator of mitochondria biogenesis that plays a key role in neuronal function,40,41 including the functional integrity of GABAergic interneurons.42–44 We compared animals received regular water versus those who received water supplemented with oral ampicillin, and found the latter with lower levels of PGC-1α in the hippocampus (Fig. 4A), a critical region implicated in learning, memory, and cognition. The gene discussed is PPARGC1A; the disease is cognitive disorder.