February 01, 2012
Heart failure and mental processes
Australian researchers have linked heart failure with a
decline in mental processes and a loss of grey matter in the
brain.
These changes could make it difficult for heart failure (HF) patients to remember
instructions such as taking the correct medication
at the right times.
Patients with HF were found to have poorer
immediate and long-term memory and reaction speeds
than those without it. Heart failure was also associated with
changes in brain regions that are important for memory, reasoning
and planning.
Find a way to make your meds a part of your daily routine
Natasha Stewart, our
Senior Cardiac Nurse, said: “Heart failure can affect people in
very different ways. More research is needed to
confirm the effect on mental processes, so that treatment can be
targeted to look after patients in the best possible way.
“The biggest implication of this research is
that patients may find it difficult to stick to treatment
regimes and forget to take their medication. It is important to speak to your GP
and your heart failure nurse about what is best for you. Together
you can find a way to make your meds a part of your daily routine
so that they are less easily forgotten.”
This study was published online by the
European Heart Journal.