Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart Failure

Persons with heart failure (HF) are typically older and are at a much higher risk for developing cognitive impairment (CI) than persons without HF. Increasingly, CI is recognized as a significant, independent predictor of worse clinical outcomes, more frequent hospital readmissions, and higher morta...

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Main Authors: Rebecca A. Gary, Kathryn Brunn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Cardiology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/157508
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author Rebecca A. Gary
Kathryn Brunn
author_facet Rebecca A. Gary
Kathryn Brunn
author_sort Rebecca A. Gary
collection DOAJ
description Persons with heart failure (HF) are typically older and are at a much higher risk for developing cognitive impairment (CI) than persons without HF. Increasingly, CI is recognized as a significant, independent predictor of worse clinical outcomes, more frequent hospital readmissions, and higher mortality rates in persons with HF. CI can have devastating effects on ability to carry out HF effective self-care behaviors. If CI occurs, however, there are currently no evidence based guidelines on how to manage or improve cognitive function in this population. Improvement in cognition has been reported following some therapies in HF and is thought to be the consequence of enhanced cerebral perfusion and oxygenation, suggesting that CI may be amenable to intervention. Because there is substantial neuronal loss with dementia and no effective restorative therapies, interventions that slow, reverse, or prevent cognitive decline are essential. Aerobic exercise is documented to increase cerebral perfusion and oxygenation by promoting neuroplasticity and neurogenesis and, in turn, cognitive functioning. Few studies have examined exercise as a potential adjunct therapy for attenuating or alleviating cognitive decline in HF. In this review, the potential benefit of aerobic exercise on cognitive functioning in HF is presented along with future research directions.
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spelling doaj-art-14212cfce04f4f96be0470ee1c0c0e0f2025-08-20T02:04:52ZengWileyCardiology Research and Practice2090-80162090-05972014-01-01201410.1155/2014/157508157508Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart FailureRebecca A. Gary0Kathryn Brunn1Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USANell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAPersons with heart failure (HF) are typically older and are at a much higher risk for developing cognitive impairment (CI) than persons without HF. Increasingly, CI is recognized as a significant, independent predictor of worse clinical outcomes, more frequent hospital readmissions, and higher mortality rates in persons with HF. CI can have devastating effects on ability to carry out HF effective self-care behaviors. If CI occurs, however, there are currently no evidence based guidelines on how to manage or improve cognitive function in this population. Improvement in cognition has been reported following some therapies in HF and is thought to be the consequence of enhanced cerebral perfusion and oxygenation, suggesting that CI may be amenable to intervention. Because there is substantial neuronal loss with dementia and no effective restorative therapies, interventions that slow, reverse, or prevent cognitive decline are essential. Aerobic exercise is documented to increase cerebral perfusion and oxygenation by promoting neuroplasticity and neurogenesis and, in turn, cognitive functioning. Few studies have examined exercise as a potential adjunct therapy for attenuating or alleviating cognitive decline in HF. In this review, the potential benefit of aerobic exercise on cognitive functioning in HF is presented along with future research directions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/157508
spellingShingle Rebecca A. Gary
Kathryn Brunn
Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart Failure
Cardiology Research and Practice
title Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart Failure
title_full Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart Failure
title_fullStr Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart Failure
title_full_unstemmed Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart Failure
title_short Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunct Therapy for Improving Cognitive Function in Heart Failure
title_sort aerobic exercise as an adjunct therapy for improving cognitive function in heart failure
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/157508
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