Individuals who experience a myocardial infarction (heart attack) appear to have a faster cognitive decline over time than those who do not experience a myocardial infarction, according to a report published yesterday in JAMA Neurology.
The findings point to the importance of tracking the cognitive function of patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction and suggest that high-risk patients should be counseled on the potential cognitive ramifications of such an event, wrote lead author Michelle C. Johansen, M.D., Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University and colleagues. “The findings also suggest that prevention of [myocardial infarction] may be a strategy to preserve brain health in older adults,” they added.
