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Published on: October 1, 2019

Obesity interacts with cerebral hypoperfusion to exacerbate cognitive impairment in older adults with heart failure

Michael L Alosco1, Mary Beth Spitznagel, Naftali Raz

  • 1Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.

Cerebrovascular Diseases Extra
|December 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Heart failure patients with both reduced cerebral blood flow and obesity experience worse attention and executive function. Weight reduction may benefit heart failure patients at risk for cognitive decline.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) is linked to reduced cerebral blood flow and cognitive impairment.
  • Obesity is common in HF patients and independently associated with cognitive decline.
  • The interplay between obesity, cerebral hypoperfusion, and cognition in HF requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between obesity and cognitive performance in older adults with HF.
  • To determine if obesity exacerbates cognitive impairment in HF patients with cerebral hypoperfusion.

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-nine HF patients underwent neuropsychological testing and impedance cardiography.
  • Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBF-V) was measured using transcranial Doppler sonography.
  • Obesity was assessed using body mass index (BMI).

Main Results:

  • Lower CBF-V correlated with poorer performance in attention/executive function and memory.
  • Higher BMI was independently linked to reduced performance in attention/executive function and language.
  • A significant interaction showed that combined hypoperfusion and high BMI adversely affect attention/executive function.

Conclusions:

  • Cerebral hypoperfusion and obesity interact to impair cognitive function in HF patients.
  • These findings highlight the potential benefits of weight reduction for HF patients at risk of cognitive impairment.
Abstract

Keywords:
Body mass indexCerebral perfusionCognitive functionHeart failureObesity

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