Heart failure—a condition in which the heart is not pumping as well as it should be, according to the American Heart Association (AHA)—currently affects approximately 6.7 million Americans, and that number is expected to rise to 8.7 million by 2030. The condition can lead to difficulty breathing, fatigue, or the more serious congestive heart failure. And doctors have now discovered that heart failure can also increase one's risk of cognitive decline.
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What is heart failure?
Heart failure is a very misunderstood condition since it does not mean your heart has stopped working. Instead, it describes the state of a heart that cannot handle its workload and isn't pumping properly.
"Your body depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body’s cells," explains the AHA. "With heart failure, the weakened heart can’t supply the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath, and some people experience excessive coughing. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can become very difficult."
Underlying causes commonly include high blood pressure, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. Though there is usually no cure for heart failure, it can be managed with medications and a healthy lifestyle.
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How does heart failure affect brain health?
A new research article published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure analyzed the cognitive health of nearly 3,000 U.S. adults in studies conducted between 1971 and 2019. Those included had no history of heart failure, stroke, or dementia at the onset of the study period.
According to a press release, researchers concluded that those who developed heart failure exhibited the following:
- A decline in global cognition (a series of factors that includes attention and problem-solving) nearly six years earlier than people without heart failure
- Diminished executive functioning four-and-a-half years earlier
