Cognitive function in female patients with chronic functional constipation

Abstract

Introduction Chronic functional gastro-intestinal disorders can affect cognitive functioning of patients (1). Wong et al (2) showed attentional and executive function impairment, Aizawa et al. (3) found impairment of cognitive plasticity and activity of frontal and temporal arias of brain during performing tests in these patients. Objectives Assessing of cognitive functioning of the female patients with chronic functional constipation. Methods 42 Rome IV adult female patients with chronic functional constipation and 26 adult normative female volunteers were tested with Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Results Both groups were comparable by age (patients’ group 29,5±6,1, volunteers’ group 28,5±9,6, ns) In both groups subjects demonstrated normal level of cognitive functioning but the scores of the patients were closer to the lower level than the scores of the volunteers. The difference was significant in composite scores and in several other scores (Tab.1). Table1. BACS Patients (n=42) Volunteers (n=26) p-level Verbal Memory 49,5± 10,6 58,8± 7,1 0,0002 Work memory 48,2±10,1 51,7±8,4 ns Motor token 51,3±10,5 59,8±10,4 0,003 Verbal fluency 52,1±11,5 56,5±9,9 ns Symbol coding 45,1±8,4 54,8±12,7 0,015 Tower of London (planning) 50,2±10,7 57,6±10,2 0,015 Composite scores 49,1 ±10,1 59,9 ±7,4 0,0001 Conclusions The findings of the study once more indicate some link between gastrointestinal dysfunction and cognitive functioning. Even these slight decrease in some aspects of cognition from normal population could have negative impact on everyday functioning. The origin of this link is still under question. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• chronic functional constipation
• female
• cognitive function