New Study Links Irregular Heartbeat and Dementia

A new large-scale study conducted by Korean researchers, the results of which were just published in the European Heart Journal, has established a significant link between the common cardiac arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation, or AFib, and the onset of dementia. The number of people who die from dementia in every state in America is constantly increasing, with the highest rates in non-metropolitan areas.

AFib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular problems. At least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib, about 70% of them between the ages of 65 and 85.

Previous research has suggested a relationship between AFib and dementia, but the Korean study is by far the largest to address the issue. It followed 262,611 participants, all over the age of 60 and none with either dementia or AFib when observation began, for an average of six years.

During that period, about 10,000 of the subjects went into prolonged or repeated atrial fibrillation. Of that number, 24.4% subsequently developed Alzeimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, compared to only 14.4% of those who remained AFib-free.

The results of the study mean that an additional 1.4 people per 100 are likely to develop dementia if they have been diagnosed with AFib, according to Boyoung Joung, joint senior author of the study. (While it doesn’t necessarily suggest a causal link between dementia and cardiovascular issues, it’s interesting to note that Kentucky, which has the second-highest rate of dementia deaths in the country, is also number two on the list of states with the most heart disease.)

One potential bright spot for AFib sufferers: Study participants who were taking oral anticoagulants — drugs used to prevent the blood-clotting that is a major danger of AFib — had a lower risk of developing dementia than those who were untreated.

Researchers believe regular physical activity, frequent social and cognitive engagement, and a healthy diet — specifically regular consumption of this one common vegetable — can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.