Open AccessBrain fog in postural tachycardia syndrome: An objective cerebral blood flow and neurocognitive analysis
Author(s) -
Wells Rachel,
Paterson Felix,
Bacchi Stephen,
Page Amanda,
Baumert Mathias,
Lau Dennis H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of arrhythmia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1883-2148
pISSN - 1880-4276
DOI - 10.1002/joa3.12325
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebral blood flow , neurocognitive , alertness , transcranial doppler , tachycardia , posterior cerebral artery , cardiology , audiology , anesthesia , middle cerebral artery , cognition , psychiatry , ischemia
Abstract Background It remains unclear whether brain fog is related to impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF) in postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) patients. Methods We assessed CBF in the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) using transcranial Doppler with visual stimuli in 11 POTS and 8 healthy subjects in the seated position, followed by neurocognitive testing. Results CBF parameters were similar between the two groups. POTS patients demonstrated significantly longer latency in delayed match to sample response time and greater errors in attention switching task. Conclusions Impaired short‐term memory and alertness may underlie the symptom of brain fog in POTS patients, despite normal CBF.