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Resting heart rate and cognitive function in ageing: Insights from a secondary data analysis
Yunrui Gu1, Joanne Ryan1, Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo1
1School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
Geroscience
|June 22, 2026
Summary
Higher resting heart rate (RHR) in older adults is linked to increased cognitive decline risk. This study suggests elevated RHR may indicate physiological changes impacting brain health over time.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Resting heart rate (RHR) is a simple metric potentially reflecting cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system health.
- Existing research on RHR and cognitive aging shows inconsistent results, often using single measurements that may not capture long-term effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline and longitudinally averaged RHR with cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
- To determine if cumulative RHR exposure is a better predictor of cognitive trajectories than a single measurement.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study involving 19,114 participants aged ≥65 years.
- RHR measured using an oscillometric device at baseline and follow-up; cognitive decline defined by >1.5 SD decrease in cognitive tests; dementia adjudicated using DSM-IV criteria.
Main Results:
- Higher baseline RHR (≥80 bpm) was associated with a 9% increased risk of cognitive decline compared to RHR of 60-69 bpm.
- Longitudinally averaged RHR (5-year) of 70-79 bpm and ≥80 bpm showed 10% and 16% higher risks of cognitive decline, respectively.
- No significant association was found between RHR and incident dementia.
Conclusions:
- Elevated resting heart rate is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline in older adults.
- These findings suggest that higher RHR may reflect underlying physiological dysregulation impacting cognitive aging.
- Longitudinal RHR measurements provide valuable insights into cumulative physiological stress and cognitive trajectories.
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