title: Neuroimaging and correlates of cognitive function among patients with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We purposed to investigate the relationship between cerebral abnormalities detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive performance in nondemented outpatients with heart failure (HF).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 58 patients with HF neuropsychological assessment was performed including tests of mental speed, executive functions, memory, language and visuospatial functions. Deep, periventricular and total white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunar and cortical infarcts, global and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) were investigated on MRI of the brain. Correlations between MRI findings and the cognitive measures were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTA correlated with memory (r = -0.353, p < 0.01), with executive functions (r = -0.383, p < 0.01) and the Mini Mental State Examination (r = -0.343, p < 0.05). Total WMH and deep WMH were found to correlate with depression and anxiety scores, but not with cognitive measures. Age, estimated premorbid intelligence and MTA were independent predictors of diminished cognitive performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In HF patients, MTA was related to cognitive dysfunction, involving memory impairment and executive dysfunction, whereas WMH was related to depression and anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sint Lucas-Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.vogels@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Raymond L C
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Vogels
authors.forename: Joukje M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oosterman
authors.forename: Barbera
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Harten
authors.forename: Alida A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gouw
authors.forename: Jutta M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schroeder-Tanka
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scheltens
authors.forename: Wiesje M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: van der Flier
authors.forename: Henry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index