A new study suggests that heart failure doesn’t just affect the body—it can also cause the brain to age faster. The research, led by Michigan Medicine, found that people diagnosed with heart failure may lose their thinking abilities much sooner than those without the condition.
More than six million Americans live with heart failure, a long-term condition where the heart cannot pump blood as well as it should. It’s known to cause fatigue and trouble breathing, but this study reveals that it may also seriously impact the brain.
Researchers followed nearly 30,000 adults over time and compared the mental abilities of those who developed heart failure with those who did not. They found a clear pattern: at the time of diagnosis, people with heart failure already had lower cognitive scores. Over the next several years, their thinking skills continued to decline more quickly.
The study showed that within seven years of a heart failure diagnosis, patients experienced a level of mental aging equal to about 10 years. In other words, someone in their 60s with heart failure might have the brain function of someone in their 70s just a few years later.
These findings were published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure.
One of the lead authors, Dr. Supriya Shore from the University of Michigan, explained that treating heart failure is complicated and depends a lot on the patient’s ability to understand and follow medical instructions.
That includes remembering to take several different medications, watching for symptoms, and following dietary and lifestyle guidelines. If a patient’s mental ability is already in decline, managing their condition becomes much harder.
The study also found that common causes of memory loss, like high blood pressure or previous heart attacks, did not fully explain the faster decline in thinking skills. Instead, heart failure itself seemed to be a key factor.
The greatest drop in overall mental ability—called global cognition—was seen in older adults, women, and white participants. People with heart failure reached the stage of noticeable mental decline about six years earlier than people without the condition.
When it came to skills like decision-making and planning (known as executive functioning), the decline happened about four and a half years earlier.
Dr. Deborah Levine, another senior researcher on the study, said that doctors should regularly check the memory and thinking skills of older adults with heart failure. Catching these changes early could help patients get the support they need before problems become serious.
The team believes more research is needed to understand exactly how heart failure causes this faster mental aging. They hope that by learning more, doctors can develop ways to slow down or prevent this kind of brain decline in the future.
Dr. Shore’s earlier work in 2024 also helps explain the real-life effects of these findings. In a separate study, she and her team interviewed people with heart failure and found that many of them didn’t understand how serious their illness was. In contrast, caregivers often noticed signs of decline, both physically and mentally.
Some patients said doctors used confusing language or avoided hard conversations. Others just felt lost trying to make sense of their condition.
Shore says that many patients and their families want honest, clear talks about what to expect with heart failure. They want to understand their chances of recovery, what their quality of life might be, and how to prepare for the future. Even though these discussions can be difficult, most people say they want them to happen early and often.
This study shows just how deeply heart failure can affect people’s lives—not only physically, but mentally. The research gives doctors an important reminder: it’s not enough to treat the heart. They also need to check how patients are thinking, remembering, and making decisions.
Losing mental sharpness makes it harder to follow medical advice, understand treatment plans, and speak up about symptoms. That’s why regular memory checks and clear, simple communication should be part of care for people with heart failure.
The findings also highlight a bigger need in healthcare: better support for both patients and caregivers. With earlier diagnosis, routine check-ins, and clear conversations, doctors can help patients stay involved in their care and plan for the future.
Heart failure is a serious, long-term illness. But with the right approach, we can help people manage it—not just in their bodies, but in their minds, too.
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The research findings can be found in Circulation: Heart Failure.
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