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Reduced parasympathetic HRV and systemic autonomic dysregulation manifest in the earliest stages of mild cognitive impairment, with baseline HRV directly predicting the rate of future cognitive decline.
Could changes in heart rate regulation yield early clues to cognitive decline? Emerging evidence suggests that autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction may accompany neurodegenerative changes before dementia becomes clinically apparent. Heart rate variability (HRV), a noninvasive biomarker of autonomic regulation, is gaining attention as a potential indicator of early cognitive impairment. A systematic review, published in "Annals of African Medicine", examined the association between HRV, autonomic dysfunction, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and early-stage dementia.
Researchers explored Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus for human studies exploring autonomic function through HRV measurements or standardized autonomic testing in those with MCI or early or mild dementia. Following screening guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), 11 studies fulfilled the predefined eligibility criteria and were included.
The review identified a consistent link between cognitive impairment and ANS dysregulation across studies with varying populations, designs, and HRV measurement protocols.
Hence, HRV appears to be a promising, noninvasive measure for investigating autonomic dysfunction linked with MCI and early dementia. Detecting these physiological changes could help researchers explore novel approaches to early risk assessment and monitoring cognitive decline. However, HRV is not yet an established standalone diagnostic biomarker for dementia. Variations in study populations, designs, and measurement protocols underscore the requisition for larger studies to validate its clinical utility.
Annals of African Medicine
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Dementia: A Systematic Review of Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Markers
Dharmendra Kumar Gupta et al.
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