Lung Health Linked to Brain Health

Whereas previous studies suggest that pulmonary function predicts long-term performance (up to 10 years) on measures of cognitive function, new data suggests that problem-solving and processing speed are impacted by reduced pulmonary function.  Charles Emery, from Ohio State University (Ohio, USA), and colleagues assessed data collected on 832 subjects, ages 50 to 85 years at the study’s start, who were assessed in up to seven waves of testing across 19 years as part of the longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging.  The team conducted statistical modeling designed to show the patterns of change over time.  Their analysis revealed that reduced pulmonary function can lead to cognitive losses – specifically, difficulties with problem-solving and processing speed.  They did not find problems with cognition to affect lung health.  The study authors conclude that: “these data indicate a directional relationship from decreased pulmonary function to decreased cognitive function, a finding that underscores the importance of maintaining pulmonary function to ensure cognitive performance.”