Irregular heart beat in stroke patients elevates risk of dementia--study

According to researchers, the threat of dementia is two times higher in stroke patients with irregular heart beat than those with normal heart rhythms.

Atrial fibrillation describes an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm which results from abnormal electrical impulses in the heart.

The heart condition affects millions and becomes more common as people age. About 15 percent of strokes occur in people with AF.

Lead researcher, Dr. Yoon K. Loke, a senior lecturer in clinical pharmacology at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, U.K. stated, "We know that atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia in older patients, but it has been unclear whether the arrhythmia is a major risk factor for dementia.”

He added, "In the stroke population, atrial fibrillation appears to have a major role in contributing to dementia, and clinicians should concentrate their efforts on tackling this, in addition to any associated cardiovascular risk factors.”

Link between irregular heart beat and dementia explored
In order to determine whether irregular heartbeat elevates the risk of dementia, scientists thoroughly scrutinized 15 studies, involving more than 46,600 participants with an average age of 72 years.

For the purpose of the study, they compared people with and without AF to determine who developed dementia over the time.

Findings of the study
An analysis of the data revealed that 25 percent of those who suffered from both stroke and AF eventually developed dementia in the follow-up period.

It was noticed that stroke survivors with irregular heart beat were 2.4 times more likely to develop dementia than stroke survivors who did not have the heart condition.

Lead author of the study, Dr Phyo Kyaw Myint, of the University of East Anglia in Norfolk, U.K., stated, "These results offer convincing evidence of a link between irregular heartbeat and dementia in patients with stroke and could help us identify treatments that delay or even prevent the onset of dementia.

“Options include more rigorous management of cardiovascular risk factors or of atrial fibrillation, particularly in stroke patients."

Need for further studies
Although the study hints at a link between atrial fibrillation and dementia in stroke patients, experts concede the findings are not conclusive.

According to them, there is need for further research to substantiate the findings.

Rebecca Wood of Alzheimer's Research UK said, "While this paper shows there is a link between atrial fibrillation and dementia, we don't yet know if treating atrial fibrillation will prevent or delay the onset of dementia.

"More research will give us the answers we urgently need."

The study will be published in the journal 'Neurology.'

About dementia
Dementia is a decline in mental capabilities especially memory and functioning, that can be caused by diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as stroke and infections to the brain.

Although it is believed that genetics play a role in dementia, recent studies reveal that lifestyle factors might also influence the severity of the problems.

Alzheimer's is the third-largest killer in the United States after heart disease and cancer.