More than six million Americans live with heart failure, and a new study shows that these individuals are more likely to experience faster mental decline than people without the condition.
The research, led by Michigan Medicine, looked at the mental abilities of nearly 30,000 adults over time and found that those who developed heart failure suffered a noticeable drop in thinking and memory skills.
At the time of diagnosis, people with heart failure already had a clear decrease in mental sharpness. Over the next seven years, their cognitive function declined even faster. On average, their minds aged the equivalent of 10 years in that time.
The study, published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure, highlights how heart failure affects more than just physical health.
“Heart failure is a lifelong illness that requires patients to follow complex care plans, take many medications, and pay close attention to their symptoms,” said Dr. Supriya Shore, the study’s lead author and a cardiologist at the University of Michigan.
“Because of this, it’s really important to check a patient’s thinking and memory skills early on and adjust the care plan if needed.”
The study found that typical risk factors for cognitive problems, such as high blood pressure or previous heart attacks, did not explain the faster decline in people with heart failure. The most dramatic drops in mental function were seen in older adults, women, and white participants.
The researchers found that people with heart failure reached noticeable levels of mental decline about six years earlier than people without the condition. Executive function—which includes planning, decision-making, and self-control—declined around four-and-a-half years earlier.
Dr. Deborah Levine, senior author of the study, said regular mental health checks for older adults with heart failure could help doctors catch early signs of decline and provide better support.
“We need to learn more about why heart failure leads to faster mental decline so we can develop ways to stop or slow it down,” said Dr. Levine.
The findings may also help explain results from another study in 2024, led by Dr. Shore. That study found that many people with heart failure did not fully understand their condition or what to expect in the future. Caregivers, however, often noticed when a patient’s health or thinking ability was getting worse.
Some patients said their doctors didn’t clearly explain their condition, or that they used confusing medical terms. Others said they wanted more honest conversations about what to expect.
“Most patients and their caregivers want to have early and open conversations about how long they might live and what their quality of life will be like,” said Dr. Shore.
“These conversations are difficult, but they are essential. With what we now know about the speed of mental decline in people with heart failure, we must talk to patients in a way they can understand—clearly and with compassion.”
If you care about brain health ,please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more health information, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
