The Neuropsychology of Pulmonary Disease and Lung Transplantation Complications
In addition to the impact of advanced pulmonary disease on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality, an emerging light of research suggests that advanced pulmonary conditions are associated with an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction (Dodd, Alzheimers Res Ther 7:32, 2015). Although transient causes of impairing cognition are well-known, including hypoxia, studies over the past few years have suggested that long-term, subclinical hypoxemia and other associated risk factors confer risk of long-term cognitive impairment above and beyond their transient impact (Thakur et al., Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 5:263-269, 2010). In addition, due to the increasing number of older adults in the Baby Boomer generation and improvements in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer, the burden of cognitive impairment associated with advanced pulmonary disease is projected to increase (Lopez-Campos et al., Respirology 21:14-23, 2016).
