Sustained attention is associated with left ventricular ejection fraction in older adults with heart disease.
Poor cardiac pumping efficiency has shown to lead to cognitive impairments in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The current study examined the relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction and sustained attention and inhibitory processes measured by the Adaptive Rate Continuous Performance Task and the Go/No-go test. Participants were 67 older outpatients (age 68.5 +/- 7.4) with a range of CVD. Associations between cognition and ejection fraction were examined via linear regression analysis. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that lower ejection fraction is significantly associated with decrements in sustained attention and vigilance. Overall, the results provide support for the hypothesis that a change in cardiac pumping leads to decrements in some aspects of attention; however, inhibitory processes are relatively spared. (JINS, 2009, 15, 137-141.).
Jerskey
Beth A
BA
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. rcohen@lifespan.org
Cohen
Ronald A
RA
Jefferson
Angela L
AL
Hoth
Karin F
KF
Haley
Andreana P
AP
Gunstad
John J
JJ
Forman
Daniel E
DE
Sweet
Lawrence H
LH
Poppas
Athena
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*