Scientists have linked poor heart function to the risk of memory impairment
Even a moderate decrease in the pumping function of the heart may be associated with microscopic changes in the areas of the brain responsible for memory. This was reported on July 6 in the journal Live Science.
The authors emphasize that the study does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between heart disorders and memory impairment. However, it complements the data on the close relationship between the cardiovascular system and the brain.
"This adds to the overall picture that maintaining healthy communication between the brain and the heart is key to healthy aging. A healthy lifestyle that protects the cardiovascular system will be beneficial not only to the heart, but also to the brain," said Jan Scheitz, consultant neurologist on stroke and head of the Brain-Heart Lab at Berlin Charite.
The study involved 73 patients who sought help for cardiac symptoms at the Leipzig Heart Center in Germany. Some of them had confirmed coronary heart disease or heart failure. The researchers also assessed 95 people without cardiac symptoms. At the beginning of the study, all had their heart function measured, and about 3.5 years later, cognitive tests and an MRI scan of the brain were performed.
Among 168 participants, less efficient pumping function of the heart at the beginning of the study was associated with more pronounced signs of tissue damage to gray matter years later. This association was observed regardless of whether a person was diagnosed with heart failure.
Cognitive tests were performed only in patients with heart disease. They assessed attention, executive functions, learning, and memory. The association with a weaker pumping function of the heart was found specifically for memory. Participants with lower heart performance had more microscopic damage in areas of the brain associated with memory, and these changes correlated with worse test scores.
"The broader conclusion is that the brain may show subtle changes at the tissue level associated with cardiac dysfunction even before we see an obvious decrease in brain volume or clinical dementia," said Xia Zhang, co—author of the study and a doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences.
According to her, future studies should confirm the findings on larger samples and with multiple time points of observation. This will help to more accurately track how the function of the heart, the microstructure of the brain and cognitive abilities are changing.
The scientists also note that the work did not directly study the effects of physical activity. However, the results may partially explain why regular exercise is often associated with healthier brain aging: it supports cardiovascular function, vascular health, and regulation of cerebral blood flow.
On June 9, Science Daily magazine reported on the association of ultraprocessed foods with impaired concentration. According to scientists, not only the composition of the food can be important, but also the level of industrial processing itself. In addition, researchers have identified a link between high consumption of such foods and several risk factors for dementia, including obesity and high blood pressure.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
