Is Heart Rate Variability Related to Memory Performance in Middle-Aged Men?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic function, has been associated with cognitive function, but studies are conflicting. Previous studies have also not controlled for familial and genetic influences. METHODS We performed power spectral analysis on 24-hour ambulatory ECG’s in 416 middle-aged male twins from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry. Memory and learning were measured by verbal and visual selective reminding tests (SRT). Mixed-effect regression models were used to calculate associations between and within twin pairs, while adjusting for covariates. RESULTS The mean age (SD) was 55 (2.9) years. A statistically significant positive association was found between measures of HRV and verbal, but not visual, SRT scores. The most statistically significant unadjusted association was found between very low frequency (VLF) HRV and verbal total recall SRT, such that each logarithm of increase in VLF was associated with an increased verbal SRT score of 4.85 points (p=0.002). The association persisted despite adjustment for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, and after accounting for familial, and genetic factors by comparing twins within pairs. A significant interaction was found between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and HRV, such that total power and ultra low frequency were associated with SRT in twins (n=362) without PTSD, but not in those with PTSD. CONCLUSION In conclusion, lower frequency spectra of HRV are associated with verbal, but not visual, learning and memory, particularly in subjects without PTSD. This association may indicate that autonomic nervous system dysregulation plays a role in cognitive decline.

Cognitive function is associated with impaired heart rate variability in ageing adults: the Irish longitudinal study on ageing wave one results

“…This is in accordance with previous studies reporting significant associations between HRV and verbal memory recall [35]. The integrity of the fornix, which is the predominant outflow tract of the hippocampus, is predictive of memory performance and progression from MCI to AD [19].…”

Evaluating reliability of ultra-short ECG indices of heart rate variability in diabetes mellitus patients

“…Although HRV measurements have been successfully calculated from 24-h recordings (Shah et al, 2011;Tombul, Anlar, Tuncer, Huseyinoglu, & Eryonucu, 2011), 5-min recordings are considered methodologically acceptable in clinical settings (Nussinovitch, Livneh, et al, 2011a;Nussinovitch, Elishkevitz, et al, 2011b). HRV evaluation is not routinely conducted by most physicians, presumably since it remains a substantially time consuming test.…”

Reduced Heart Rate Variability Is Associated With Worse Cognitive Performance in Elderly Mexican Americans

“…1,2 HRV is the beat-to-beat alterations to the sinus rhythm which result from the interactions between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Reduced HRV has been shown to be a strong predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality 3–6 and has been proposed as a prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease risk stratification and management.…”