MicroRNA-181b-5p attenuates early postoperative cognitive dysfunction by suppressing hippocampal neuroinflammation in mice

•Surgery/Anesthesia induces postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in mice.•MiR-181b-5p expression was decreased in the hippocampus of mice with POCD.•MiR-181b-5p can direct regulate the expression of TNF-α via binding to its 3′ UTR.•MiR-181b-5p attenuates early POCD by suppressing hippocampal inflammation in mice.