Heart Failure Linked to Decline in Neuropsychological Health

Recent research indicates that patients suffering from heart failure often experience a deterioration in neuropsychological health over a six-month period. This study, published online on April 8, 2025, in Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, sheds light on the intricate relationship between cardiac health and mental well-being.

Maria Jędrzejczyk from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland and her team examined how different types of heart failure impact cognitive function, mental health, and self-care practices. The study involved 162 patients over the age of 60 diagnosed with various forms of heart failure.

Findings revealed that cognitive impairment was less severe in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) compared to those with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), with median Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 28 versus 27, respectively. Furthermore, patients with HFpEF showed a notable increase in depression severity over the six months, evidenced by median Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores rising from 1 to 3.

Across all patient groups, the ability to perform self-care deteriorated, with median scores on the European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale changing from 28 at baseline to 29 after six months. Elevated levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were observed particularly in patients with reduced ejection fraction, with levels reaching 3,437.7 pg/mL, compared to 2,171.2 pg/mL in HFmrEF and 977.1 pg/mL in HFpEF.

The researchers emphasize the importance of routine cognitive and psychological assessments in managing heart failure. They advocate for phenotype-specific therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes, highlighting that addressing cognitive deficits and depression is vital for long-term health and quality of life in heart failure patients.

These insights underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to cardiac care that encompasses mental health support, tailored to the specific subtype of heart failure, to enhance patient well-being and functional status.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-heart-failure-worsening-neuropsychological-symptoms.html