Cardiac surgery has developed rapidly over the past few decades. Clinically, cognitive impairment and delirium occur in patients after cardiac surgery under anesthesia. However, the investigation of perioperative cognitive impairment and delirium in patients with cardiac surgery remains largely to be performed. We, therefore, call for the submission of the manuscripts in this special issue "Cognitive impairment and delirium associated with cardiac surgery and anesthesia" in the Journal of Heart and Mind. This issue will include, but is not limited to, risks of perioperative cognitive impairment and delirium in patients with cardiac surgery; application of multidisciplinary collaboration in cardiac surgery under anesthesia; improvements of anesthesia care for patients with cardiac surgery; and mechanisms and interventions of cognitive impairment and delirium after cardiac surgery.