Coronary events are associated with increased cognitive decline

This study investigated the cognitive decline (CD; decreased functioning of reasoning and thinking) before and after a coronary event in patients with coronary heart disease. Researchers suggested that coronary events are associated with CD.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The rate of heart disease increases naturally with age, even in previously healthy individuals. This is also related to an increase in brain damage and CD for older people.

A coronary event is the occurrence of a heart attack or angina (chest pains). Because CD is also related to age, the CD that happens prior to a coronary event is not well understood.

This study included 7888 participants with no history of stroke. Participants were assessed at the start and were followed-up for 12 years.

CD before a coronary event was similar in participants who did and did not have a coronary event during follow-up. No short-term CD following the coronary event was observed. However, in the years following the coronary event, the CD was significantly faster than it was before the event.  

This study concluded that coronary events are associated with CD after, but not before, the event.

This study was based on medical records. Some information might have been incomplete. This might affect the results.