Respiratory function and neurocognitive disorders
Keywords:
Neurocognitive Disorders, Pulmonary Function, spirometry, Dementia, PRISmAbstract
Introduction: Population aging and exposure to factors such as smoking and environmental pollutants increase the burden of chronic respiratory diseases. These conditions have been consistently associated with cognitive decline and dementia. Available evidence indicates that decreased lung function, assessed by spirometric tests, is related to a higher risk of cognitive impairment in older adults.
Objective: To evaluate the association between chronic lung diseases, alterations in respiratory function, and the development of cognitive impairment.
Method: A search was conducted in scientific databases (Hinari, Lilacs, PubMed, and SciELO) to identify studies examining the relationship between lung function and cognition. The initial search identified more than 38,000 articles.
Discussion: Chronic respiratory diseases show a significant relationship with deficits in memory, attention, and processing speed. Hypoxemia, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress appear as key mechanisms affecting cerebral perfusion and neuronal integrity. The interaction between mild cognitive impairment and lung function emerges as a relevant finding, as does the influence of smoking and genetic susceptibility on the progression of respiratory and cognitive impairment.
Conclusions: Reduced lung function is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. Chronic respiratory diseases can accelerate structural brain changes and increase vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms and develop strategies to reduce these risks.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Rodolfo Isidro Bosch Bayard, Diane Millo Martin, Lorena Bosch Orihuela
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