Brain Alterations and Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults With Heart Failure

February 4, 2019 updated by: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Cognitive impairment, commonly reported as difficulty with memory and executive function, is a widely recognized clinical challenge for older persons with heart failure (HF). Little is known about the relationship between brain MRI and cognitive impairment in older persons with HF. A limited number of studies have investigated brain MRI in adults with HF and produced conflicting results. Previous findings are limited by use of lower resolution scanners (1.5 Tesla), lack of MRI techniques (i.e. combining structural sequences with perfusion sequences) and recruitment of mixed age samples. Based on these limitations, the purpose of this research plan is to explore the relationship between brain MRI and cognitive impairment in older persons with HF using high resolution structural and perfusion scans. To accomplish this goal, investigators will compare 40 adults with HF who are age > 65 years old with 40 healthy, gender, age, and education matched controls. Investigators will obtain neuropsychological measures of multiple domains, as well as MRI measurements of the temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex at baseline and 12-months.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Heart Failure

Detailed Description

Cognitive impairment, commonly reported as difficulty with memory and executive function, is a widely recognized clinical challenge for persons > 65 years old with HF. Although the degree of cognitive impairment usually does not meet the criteria for dementia, it can affect an individual's ability to process and remember information, such as complex medication regimens [5]. Findings suggest that brain regions that support memory (i.e. temporal lobe) and executive function (i.e. prefrontal cortex) may be altered in older persons with HF; suggesting that these brain alterations are related to the HF disease process and not normal aging. Surprisingly, despite the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in HF, relationships between brain and cognition have not been well studied.

Little is known about the relationships between brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive impairment in older persons with HF. A limited number of studies have investigated brain MRI in adults with HF and produced conflicting results. Three studies utilized structural MRI techniques and identified evidence of atrophy in the temporal lobe, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex and an increased volume of white matter hyperintensities [6-8]. Brain hypoperfusion, operationalized as decreased global cerebral perfusion, was identified in two studies [9, 10]. Only one study examined relationships between brain MRI and cognitive impairment in HF [6]. Vogels et al., (2007) found that atrophy in the medial temporal lobe was associated with decreased measures of memory and executive function. White matter hyperintensities did not correlate with any cognitive measures. Limited research findings indicate that various brain alterations in the temporal lobe, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex contribute to cognitive impairment in HF. However, previous findings are limited by use of lower resolution scanners (1.5 Tesla), lack of MRI techniques (i.e. structural and perfusion scans) and recruitment of mixed age samples.

Based on these limitations, the purpose of this research plan is to explore relationships between brain MRI and cognitive impairment in older persons with HF using high resolution structural and perfusion scans. To accomplish this goal, investigators will compare 40 adults with HF who are > 65 years old with 40 healthy, gender, age, and education matched controls. Investigators will obtain neuropsychological measures of multiple domains, as well as MRI measurements of the temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex at baseline and 12-months. The following specific aims will be investigated:

Aim 1: Compare brain MRI in older persons with HF and controls at baseline and 12-months.

Hypothesis 1a: Older persons with HF will have increased white matter hyperintensities, decreased grey matter volume, and decreased perfusion in the temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex compared with controls. Hypothesis 1b: Older persons with HF will exhibit a greater decline in grey matter volume in the temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex over 12-months compared with controls.

Aim 2: Compare cognitive function in older persons with HF and controls at baseline and 12-months.

Hypothesis 2a): Older persons with HF will perform lower on measures of memory and executive function compared with controls.

Hypothesis 2b): Older persons with HF will exhibit a greater decline on measures of memory and executive function over 12-months compared with controls.

Aim 3: Examine the relationships between brain MRI and cognitive function in older persons with HF and controls at baseline.

Hypothesis 3a: Decreased grey matter and perfusion in the temporal lobe and an increased volume of white matter hyperintensities in the temporal lobe will be associated with decreased memory scores.

Hypothesis 3b: Decreased grey matter and perfusion in the prefrontal cortex and an increased volume of white matter hyperintensities in the prefrontal cortex will be associated with a decreased executive function score.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

United States
- Wisconsin
  - Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53792
    - University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years to 85 years (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Older adults with heart failure

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

65 years old or older
English speaking and writing;
Stable guideline based medication regimen for at least four weeks prior to enrollment
New York Heart Association classification I-IV

Exclusion Criteria:

Mini-Mental Status Exam score equal to or less than 24;
Current diagnosis of neurological illnesses or movement disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy);
History of substance abuse/treatment;
Untreated depression
History of stroke;
Hepatic insufficiency;
Severe renal failure;
Untreated anemia;
Left ventricular assist device;
History of the following within three months of study enrollment: acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary artery bypass surgery, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, or biventricular pacemaker insertion;
History of implantable device (or other MRI contraindications).
Prisoners
Pregnancy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Number of groups / cohorts

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Older adults with heart failure

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean neuropsychological test scores and brain changes Time Frame: One year	Compare mean values of the following outcomes between older adults with heart failure and older adults without heart failure at baseline neuropsychological test scores brain medial temporal lobe volume brain frontal cortex volume brain medial temporal lobe perfusion brain frontal cortex perfusion Compare mean value changes in the following outcomes between baseline and one year in patients with heart failure: neuropsychological test scores brain medial temporal lobe volume brain frontal cortex volume brain medial temporal lobe perfusion brain frontal cortex perfusion	One year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Collaborators

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Investigators

Principal Investigator: Lisa C Bratzke, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 20, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 26, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)