Cardiac dysfunction in chronic heart failure leads to cerebral blood flow impairment and predisposes patients to cognitive decline through chronic regional hypoperfusion and microvascular damage.
Highlights the pathophysiological link between chronic heart failure and cognitive decline via cerebral hypoperfusion, emphasizing the need for early recognition.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive decline is an important contributor to disability in patients with chronic heart failure, affecting 25%-50% of patients. The aim of this review is to stress the importance of understanding pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure involved in cognitive decline. METHODS: An extensive PubMed search was conducted for the literature on the basic mechanisms of cerebral blood flow regulation, the effect of cardiac dysfunction on cerebral blood flow, and possible mechanisms underlying the association between cardiac dysfunction and cognitive decline. RESULTS: Published literature supports the thesis that cardiac dysfunction leads to cerebral blood flow impairment and predisposes to cognitive decline. One of the postulated mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in chronic heart failure is chronic regional hypoperfusion of critical brain areas. Cognitive function may be further compromised by microvascular damage due to cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, it is implied that cerebral blood flow assessment could enable early recognition of patients at risk and help guide appropriate therapeutic strategies. CONCLUSION: Interdisciplinary knowledge in the fields of neurology and cardiology is essential to clarify heart and brain interconnections in chronic heart failure. Understanding and identifying the basic neuropathophysiological changes in chronic heart failure could help with developing methods for early recognition of patients at risk, followed by institution of therapeutic actions to prevent or decrease cognitive decline.
Ovsenik et al. (Fri,) conducted a review in Chronic heart failure and cognitive decline. Cardiac dysfunction in chronic heart failure leads to cerebral blood flow impairment and predisposes patients to cognitive decline through chronic regional hypoperfusion and microvascular damage.