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Cardiac output as a potential risk factor for abnormal brain aging

Angela L Jefferson1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Alzheimer's Disease Center, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. angelaj@bu.edu

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|April 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Even mild cardiac dysfunction, indicated by low cardiac output, may accelerate brain aging and increase Alzheimer's disease risk. This suggests a direct link between heart health and brain health in aging adults.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Heart failure is a known model for brain changes in aging.
  • Systemic hypoperfusion from cardiac dysfunction theoretically impacts cerebral perfusion and brain injury.
  • Recent data explore links between subtle cardiac issues and brain aging markers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent data on the association between cardiac function and brain aging.
  • To explore the hypothesis that reduced cardiac output is a risk factor for abnormal brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature.
  • Analysis of data quantifying cardiac output and cognitive/neuroimaging markers.
  • Theoretical modeling of mechanistic pathways.

Main Results:

  • Subtle cardiac dysfunction, or low-normal cardiac output, correlates with cognitive and neuroimaging markers of abnormal brain aging.
  • These associations exist even without overt heart failure or severe cardiomyopathy.
  • Reduced cardiac output may independently contribute to brain injury.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced cardiac output may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and abnormal brain aging.
  • Mechanisms may include neurovascular processes, microembolism, and Alzheimer's neuropathology.
  • A direct pathway from cardiac output to brain aging, independent of shared risk factors, is proposed.

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