Having a resting heart rate ≥ 80 bpm compared to 60-69 bpm was significantly associated with lower global cognitive function (MMSE β -0.58) and attention scores in older adults.
Cross-Sectional (n=4,510)
Is abnormal resting heart rate associated with worse cognitive function and increased systemic inflammation in older adults?
An inverted J-shaped association exists between resting heart rate and cognitive function in older adults, suggesting that abnormal resting heart rates may be linked to cognitive decline through systemic low-grade inflammation and endothelial injury.
Effect estimate: β -0.58 (95% CI -1.00, -0.16)
p-value: p=<0.01
BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence has linked elevated resting heart rate (RHR) with poor cognitive function in older adults, but the mechanisms underlying their association are poorly understood. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study included 4510 dementia-free participants (age ≥ 65 years; 56.9% females; 38.3% no formal education) in the baseline examination of the Multidomain Interventions to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China study. Of these, 1,386 had data on serum proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules. RHR was measured using 12-lead electrocardiograph. We used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a neuropsychological test battery to assess cognitive function. Data were analyzed using the general linear and restricted cubic splines models. RESULTS: People with high RHR were more likely to have cardiometabolic diseases and worse cognitive function (p < 0.05). There was an inverted J-shaped association of RHR with MMSE and attention scores. Having RHR ≥ 80 bpm (vs. 60-69 bpm) was significantly associated with the multivariable-adjusted β coefficients of - 0.58 95% confidence interval (CI), - 1.00, - 0.16 for MMSE score and - 0.08 (- 0.15, - 0.01) for attention score. In the serum biomarker subsample, RHR was linearly associated with serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) (β coefficient = 0.19; 95%CI 0.14, 0.24), IL-8 (0.08; 0.02, 0.13), IL-10 (0.09; 0.04, 0.15), tumor necrosis factor-α (0.06; 0.01, 0.11), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (0.09; 0.04, 0.15), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (0.16; 0.11, 0.22), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (0.11; 0.06, 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: There is an inverted J-shaped association of RHR with attention and global cognition. Poor cognitive function and high RHR may be linked through systemic low-grade inflammation and endothelial injury.
Mao et al. (Sun,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cognitive function and inflammation (n=4,510). Resting heart rate ≥ 80 bpm vs. Resting heart rate 60-69 bpm was evaluated on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (β -0.58, 95% CI -1.00, -0.16, p=<0.01). Having a resting heart rate ≥ 80 bpm compared to 60-69 bpm was significantly associated with lower global cognitive function (MMSE β -0.58) and attention scores in older adults.