Chronic heart failure and cognitive impairment: co‐existence of conditions or true association?

State of the Science

“…The most likely cause of diminished cognitive function not associated with dementia in HF is low cardiac output that leads to inadequate cerebral perfusion and cerebral hypoxia. [177][178][179] Silent stroke is another potential cause of diminished cognitive function. 180 A third potential explanation is serum apolipoprotein E genotype, a risk factor for cognitive impairment in other populations.…”

Natriuretic peptides and other biomarkers in chronic heart failure: From BNP, NT-proBNP, and MR-proANP to routine biochemical markers

“…Moreover, the S100B regulates the hypertrophic response and remodeling in the early post-infarct period in rats [32]. With respect to significant proportion of HF patients with evident (and presumably even more with clinically undetectable) cerebral injury [33], the prognostic role of S100B should not be overlooked.…”

Factors Contributing to Global Cognitive Impairment in Heart Failure: Results From a Population-Based Cohort

“…Nevertheless it is still unclear whether the association of HF with cognitive impairment relates to poor cardiac output or is the result of multiple co-existing conditions. 3,4 Cognitive impairment in patients with HF is independently associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction 5 but is also associated with several comorbid factors, including old age, anemia and hypotension, as well as low serum albumin, sodium or potassium levels and hyperglycemia. 6 The current study was initiated to determine whether there is an independent association between HF and cognitive impairment in a large national cohort that includes a large African American population.…”