Connecting Heart Health to Brain Health: Long-Term Cognitive Decline Following Heart Attacks Revealed in NIA-Funded Study
A study funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests that individuals who have experienced one or more heart attacks in their lifetime may undergo faster long-term cognitive decline. While heart attacks did not lead to immediate cognitive decline, the research, published in JAMA Neurology and conducted by Johns Hopkins University, reveals that heart attacks are a significant risk factor for cognitive decline even after recovery.
The study analyzed data from six NIH-funded cardiovascular health cohort studies conducted between 1971 and 2019. The participants, initially aged around 64 with no history of heart attack, stroke, or dementia, shared their health records and took cognitive tests over time.
Among the 30,465 participants studied, 1,033 had experienced a heart attack during their lifetime. Interestingly, cognitive function did not change immediately after the heart attack. Still, over the subsequent years, those who had suffered a heart attack exhibited faster rates of cognitive decline compared to those who had not.
These findings emphasize the connection between heart health and brain health, potentially guiding healthcare providers in monitoring and discussing cognitive decline risk in patients who have had a heart attack. Future research may delve into how factors like gender and race interact with the relationship between heart attacks and cognitive decline.
National Institute on Aging. (2023). Heart attacks may be linked to accelerated cognitive decline over time. https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/heart-attacks-may-be-linked-accelerated-cognitive-decline-over-time?utm_source=nia-eblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news-20231009