Cardiovascular autonomic regulation correlates with cognitive performance in patients with a history of traumatic brain injury
Wang R, Muresanu D, Hösl K, Hilz MJ (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06857-y
Abstract
Background and objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may afflict brain areas contributing to both cardiovascular autonomic regulation and cognitive performance. To evaluate possible associations between both functions in patients with a history of TBI (post-TBI-patients), we determined correlations between cardiovascular autonomic regulation and cognitive function in post-TBI-patients. Methods: In 86 post-TBI-patients (33.1 ± 10.8 years old, 22 women, 36.8 ± 28.9 months after injury), we monitored RR intervals (RRI), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPsys, BPdia), and respiration (RESP) at rest. We calculated parameters of total cardiovascular autonomic modulation (RRI-standard-deviation (RRI-SD), RRI-coefficient-of-variation (RRI-CV), RRI-total-powers), sympathetic (RRI-low-frequency-powers (RRI-LF), normalized (nu) RRI-LF-powers, BPsys-LF-powers) and parasympathetic modulation (root-mean-square-of-successive-RRI-differences (RMSSD), RRI-high-frequency-powers (RRI-HF), RRI-HFnu-powers), sympathetic-parasympathetic balance (RRI-LF/HF-ratios), and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). We used the Mini-Mental State Examination and Clock Drawing Test (CDT) to screen the general global and visuospatial cognitive function, and applied the standardized Trail Making Test (TMT)-A assessing visuospatial abilities and TMT-B assessing executive function. We calculated correlations between autonomic and cognitive parameters (Spearman’s rank correlation test; significance: P < 0.05). Results: CDT values positively correlated with age (P = 0.013). TMT-A values inversely correlated with RRI-HF-powers (P = 0.033) and BRS (P = 0.043), TMT-B values positively correlated with RRI-LFnu-powers (P = 0.015), RRI-LF/HF-ratios (P = 0.036), and BPsys-LF-powers (P = 0.030), but negatively with RRI-HFnu-powers (P = 0.015). Conclusions: In patients with a history of TBI, there is an association between decreased visuospatial and executive cognitive performance and reduced parasympathetic cardiac modulation and baroreflex sensitivity with relatively increased sympathetic activity. Altered autonomic control bears an increased cardiovascular risk; cognitive impairment compromises quality of life and living conditions. Thus, both functions should be monitored in post-TBI-patients.
Authors with CRIS profile
Ruihao Wang
Heisenbergprofessur für Neuroimmunologie
Max-Josef Hilz
Heisenbergprofessur für Neuroimmunologie
Involved external institutions
Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy / Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie "Iuliu Hațieganu" (UMF Cluj)
Romania (RO)
Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Nürnberg
Germany (DE)
Romania (RO)
Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Nürnberg
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Wang, R., Muresanu, D., Hösl, K., & Hilz, M.-J. (2023). Cardiovascular autonomic regulation correlates with cognitive performance in patients with a history of traumatic brain injury. Neurological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-023-06857-y
MLA:
Wang, Ruihao, et al. "Cardiovascular autonomic regulation correlates with cognitive performance in patients with a history of traumatic brain injury." Neurological Sciences (2023).
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