Contact: Nicole Napoli, nnapoli@acc.org, 202-669-1465

WASHINGTON (Mar 23, 2022) -

A heart attack’s impact on the brain may be more serious than previously understood. About 1 in 3 heart attack survivors showed significant mental decline in the days and months following their heart attack, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71^st Annual Scientific Session. The findings suggest that increased attention to monitoring cognitive functioning after a heart attack is needed, researchers said.  

“We found a very high prevalence of previously undiagnosed cognitive impairment among patients hospitalized due to myocardial infarction,” said Dominika Kasprzak, MD, a cardiologist at J. Strus Hospital in Poznań, Poland, and the study’s lead author. “This impairment can be both temporary and permanent, and some patients develop impairment after a delay of several months.”

The study assessed the mental functioning of 220 patients hospitalized for a heart attack in Poznań, Poland. Patients underwent two cognitive assessments a few days after their heart attack, and then, repeated the tests six months later. The two tests were the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Clock Drawing Test, which assess a person’s thinking, memory and ability to perform basic tasks and are commonly used to identify signs of dementia.

The tests overall showed roughly 50% of patients had normal cognitive functioning at both time points, while the other half had some cognitive impairment. About 35-40% of patients showed cognitive impairment in the first days after their heart attack, while 27-33% showed impairment six months later. Of the patients who had some cognitive impairment shortly after their heart attack, the impairment was temporary in about half of cases and permanent for the other half. About 1 in 9 patients had normal cognitive functioning shortly after their heart attack but showed cognitive decline six months later.

Cognitive deficits can impact a person’s quality of life and make it more challenging to keep up with treatments and lifestyle changes intended to help prevent a second heart attack. As such, Kasprzak said it is important for cardiologists to be alert for signs of mental decline.  

“Cognitive deficits, such as memory loss or not being able to recognize a loved one, can be even more important for our patients than their cardiovascular disease,” Kasprzak said. “We need to monitor our patients regularly to detect changes in their functioning, not only in the heart but also in the brain.”

None of the study participants had a history of dementia or cognitive disorders before their heart attack. While the researchers did not attempt to identify the causes of the mental declines they observed, Kasprzak suggested that different drivers may be at work in the case of temporary effects versus permanent ones. For example, psychological stress and sleep disturbances around the time of a heart attack may contribute to temporary deficits, while permanent effects could indicate neurodegeneration or damage to the brain. For patients who experience delayed declines in the months after a heart attack, factors such as sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety could play a role.

Given that study participants were relatively young—60 years old on average—Kasprzak said it is unlikely that normal age-related declines alone could explain the patients’ high rate of cognitive impairment. However, age may amplify the effects. Patients who were older and those with blood markers indicative of more severe cardiovascular disease, were more likely to show permanent cognitive impairment.  

The researchers are currently analyzing data from a larger follow-on study to further investigate cognitive trends following a heart attack and the drivers that contribute to these effects. The team also plans to develop a more efficient assessment tool that cardiologists could use to screen for cognitive deficits during routine follow-up visits.  

Kasprzak will present the study, “Cognitive Impairment After Myocardial Infarction,” on Sunday, April 3, at 11:30 a.m. ET / 15:30 UTC in Ischemic Heart Disease Moderated Poster Theater 6, Hall C.

ACC.22 will take place April 2-4, 2022, in Washington, DC, bringing together cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists from around the world to share the newest discoveries in treatment and prevention. Follow @ACCinTouch, @ACCMediaCenter and #ACC22 for the latest news from the meeting.

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit ACC.org.

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