Differential Peripheral Inflammatory Factors Associated with Cognitive Function in Patients with Heart Failure

Cognitive deficits are common in patients with heart failure (HF), and can negatively affect self-care, predict rehospitalizations, and increase mortality rates 5-fold. Inflammation can produce vascular pathology, reducing cerebral blood flow to brain regions necessary for optimal cognitive function. The purpose of the investigation was to identify a pattern of peripheral blood inflammation-related biomarkers associated with cognitive impairment in patients with HF.

Forty-five outpatients (median age = 67 years, SD = 9.9) were recruited from University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare Systems (VASDHS), diagnosed with New York Heart Association Stages I-III HF. Participants were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a measure of global cognitive impairment, and blood was analyzed for plasma biomarkers, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid-A (SAA).

Almost half the patients scored below the threshold on the MoCA, indicating at least mild cognitive impairment. A factor analysis produced three biomarker factors: vascular inflammatory factor-1: TNFα, sICAM1, sVCAM1; neuroinflammatory factor-2: BDNF, MMP-9, IL-8; peripheral inflammatory factor-3: IL-6, CRP, SAA. Only vascular inflammatory factor-1 was significantly associated with cognitive function (MoCA) (ΔR2 = 0.214, beta = -0.468, p = 0.008).

In this cohort with HF, vascular inflammation appears related to poorer cognitive function. This could indicate targets for treatment to reduce cognitive deficits in HF. However, this is a preliminary study, and further research is needed.