Memory function in cardiac arrest survivors and patients with myocardial infarction

• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Memory research; Cardiac arrest; Myocardial infarction
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1416

M.A. === The study investigated the effects of cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction on long-term memory function. Given that anoxia has more serious neuropsychological ramifications than hypoxia, it was hypothesized that the cardiac arrest group would perform poorer than the myocardial infarction group in visuo-spatial and auditory-verbal recall and recognition memory. When brain insult prevails, affective changes may occur and may reflect the trauma related to the illness and partly to the cognitive dysfunction. Thus it was hypothesized that the Beck Depression Inventory scores would be significantly elevated in the cardiac arrest group. Each group consisted of 15 participants. The mean age for the cardiac arrest group and myocardial infarction group was 59.47 years (SD = 9.24) and 58.87 years (SD = 7.22), respectively. Sex, age, education, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking were controlled. However, the analysis did not reveal any significant between-group differences. There was no significant difference on the BDI, and both groups were moderately depressed, the cardiac arrest (BDI: mean score = 17.07, SD = 16.97) and myocardial infarction (BDI: mean score = 18.33, SD = 18.35). The researchers acknowledged the potential effects that beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme have on memory and cognitive performance, respectively. However, the analysis did not reveal a significant between-group difference for these variables. The neuropsychological test battery comprised: Rey-Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure Test (ROCFT), Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test (WAIS) Symbol Search and Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, and the Oral Word Controlled Test (FAS). The memory function of the cardiac arrest group was characterized by deficits in visuo-spatial and auditory-verbal recall and recognition memory. In addition, the retention intervals were not mediating factors. This group was also impaired in visuo-spatial perception, constructional and organizational ability, and psychomotor speed. The impairment that characterized the myocardial infarction group converged on all auditory-verbal attentional tasks, indicating that this group has a selective impairment in auditory-verbal attention. Moreover, both groups exhibited equal levels of impairment in orientation, and uniform performance in executive function and verbal fluency. The memory function after cardiac arrest is characterized by deficits in visuo-spatial and auditory-verbal deficits in recall and recognition memory as well as impairment in visual perception, constructional ability, and psychomotor speed. By contrast, myocardial infarction patients are specifically impaired in auditory-verbal attention.