Improvements in cognitive function following cardiac rehabilitation for older adults with cardiovascular disease.
Cognitive impairment is common in persons with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves many aspects of CVD linked to cognitive impairment. The current study explored whether CR may improve cognitive function. Potential mechanisms for cognitive changes were also examined through exploratory analyses, including changes in cardiovascular fitness and cerebral blood flow. Fifty-one older adults with CVD underwent neuropsychological assessment at baseline and discharge from a 12-week CR program. Cardiovascular fitness (i.e., metabolic equivalents [METs]) was estimated from a symptom-limited volitional stress test. Transcranial doppler quantified mean cerebral blood flow velocity and pulsatility indexes for the middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Repeated measures ANOVA showed improvements in global cognition, attention-executive-psychomotor function, and memory. Exploratory analyses revealed improvement in METs and changes in ACA flow velocity, but only improvement in METs was related to improved verbal recall. CVD patients exhibited improvements in multiple cognitive domains following a 12-week CR program, suggesting that cognitive impairment is modifiable in this population. Although other studies are needed to elucidate underlying mechanisms, exploratory analyses suggest that cognitive improvements may be better explained by physiological processes other than improved cardiovascular fitness and cerebral blood flow.
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
Kelly M
KM
Stanek
John
J
Gunstad
Mary Beth
MB
Spitznagel
Donna
D
Waechter
Joel W
JW
Hughes
Faith
F
Luyster
Richard
R
Josephson
James
J
Rosneck
D000368:Aged; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology