Difficult cases in heart failure: the challenge of neurocognitive dysfunction in severe heart failure.
Often ignored, neurocognitive dysfunction in chronic heart failure represents a daunting morbidity progressing to loss of self-reliance. Although the precise mechanisms arbitrating the development of this disorder remain elusive, microembolization and cerebral hypoperfusion are implicated. Other causes of cognitive decline may include prior cardiac surgery, chronic hypertension, sleep disordered breathing, hyperhomocysteinemia, dementia of aging, and more traditional causes such as Alzheimer's disease. The discovery of neurocognitive defects in heart failure must prompt a well-constructed diagnostic evaluation to search for the underlying causes since this process may be at least partially reversible in many cases.
Sangha
Sumadeep S
SS
Ochsner Cardiomyopathy and Heart Transplantation Center, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121,USA.
Uber
Patricia A
PA
Park
Myung H
MH
Scott
Robert L
RL
Mehra
Mandeep R
MR
D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged