Volume 110, Nº 1, January 2018
DOI: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20180002
VIEWPOINT
Cognitive Deficit in Heart Failure and the Benefits of Aerobic Physical Activity
Maria Luíza de Medeiros Rêgo
Daniel Aranha Rego Cabral
Eduardo Bodnariuc Fontes
Figure 1 – Aerobic physical activity promotes an increase in the concentrations of VEGF and BDNF, which can improve cognitive processes, increase the parasympathetic tone, and decrease the sympathetic activation. This condition may decrease peripheral vascular resistance and lead to increased cerebral blood flow in the pré-frontal cortex, positively interfering with cognitive ability. With increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex, there may be an inhibition of the amygdala promoting a vagal increase and sympathetic decrease, feedback system. VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Keywords: Heart Failure; Indicators of Morbidity and Mortality; Cognition; Exercise.
