Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Journal of the American Heart Association, e041448. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.125.041448 Dr. Chenlu Gao et al.
Points
- Researchers found that higher pulse rate complexity, measured through overnight pulse oximetry, was associated with slower cognitive decline in older adults over a follow-up period of up to 4.5 years.
- A one standard deviation increase in pulse rate complexity was equivalent to a cognitive aging difference of about three years, suggesting substantial predictive value for cognitive resilience.
- Traditional measures of pulse rate variability showed no link to cognitive change, indicating that pulse rate complexity may be a more precise indicator of cardiovascular-related cognitive outcomes.
- The findings suggest that pulse rate complexity could be a noninvasive biomarker for predicting cognitive aging and potentially the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.
- As complex pulse patterns indicate, maintaining cardiovascular health may help preserve cognitive function in aging populations and guide early intervention strategies.
Summary
This study explored the association between pulse rate complexity and cognitive decline in older adults, focusing on subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction as a predictor of future cognitive health. Data were collected from 503 participants (mean age 82±7 years, 76% female) using overnight pulse oximetry. A distribution entropy algorithm was employed to assess pulse rate complexity, a proxy for cardiovascular function. Participants completed a standardized cognitive test battery during the pulse oximetry and follow-up visits spanning up to 4.5 years.
The results revealed a significant relationship between greater pulse rate complexity and slower cognitive decline. Specifically, a 1-SD increase in distribution entropy was associated with a decline rate equivalent to being approximately 3 years younger. In contrast, conventional measures of pulse rate variability, such as time- or frequency-domain metrics, showed no association with cognitive changes. This suggests that pulse rate complexity may provide a more sensitive marker of cardiovascular health and its impact on cognitive function.
The study concludes that higher pulse rate complexity is linked to slower cognitive decline, highlighting the potential of this noninvasive measure to predict cognitive aging. Further research is needed to determine if pulse rate complexity can also predict the onset of neurodegenerative conditions, such as dementia, which would open avenues for early intervention. These findings underscore the importance of heart health in maintaining cognitive function and suggest pulse rate complexity as a promising biomarker for future studies on cognitive aging.
Link to the article: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.041448
References Gao, C., Lim, A. S. P., Haghayegh, S., Cai, R., Yang, J., Yu, L., Ibanez, A., Buchman, A. S., Bennett, D. A., Gao, L., Hu, K., & Li, P. (2025). Reduced complexity of pulse rate is associated with faster cognitive decline in older adults. Journal of the American Heart Association, e041448. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.125.041448
