Brain vascular changes in adults with congenital heart disease : a systematic review

Less information is available on brain integrity in adults with congenital heart disease than on brain changes in newborns and children with heart defects. Nevertheless, the number of adults with congenital heart disease is increasing rapidly and it has been shown that adults with congenital heart disease develop dementia almost twice as frequently as adults in the general population. In the context of a rapidly growing congenital heart disease population, neuroradiological-oriented investigations of biomarkers distinctive for vascular damage, brain aging, and possible cognitive impairment is a crucial challenge. We provide an overview of the existing literature on neuroimaging studies in adults with congenital heart disease and discuss methodology issues to further investigate this subject. Overall, we aim to raise awareness of the importance of brain health studies in adults with congenital heart disease given the likely increasing impact on social and healthcare systems.