Treating victims of a stroke can be a daunting task. However, new studies show that by additionally treating atrial fibrillation (AF) post-stroke may stave off vascular dementia in upcoming years.
Research into nearly 50,000 patients’ records found that AF after a stroke more than doubles the risk of dementia, and doctors say they should now investigate whether more vigorous treatment with drugs to control AF might delay or even prevent dementia.
Atrial fibrillation is a disorder found in about 2.2 million Americans. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two small upper chambers (the atria) quiver instead of beating effectively. Blood isn’t pumped completely out of them, so it may pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. About 15 percent of strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation.
The likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. Three to five percent of people over 65 have atrial fibrillation and it is the most common heart rhythm disturbance and affects up to 500,000 people in the United Kingdom as well.
Experts at the University of East Anglia in the UK believe tighter management of AF might also offer some protection against dementia. They looked at research where people with and without AF were followed up to see how many went on to develop dementia.
By analyzing 15 separate studies they found that stroke survivors with AF were 2.4 times more likely to develop dementia than stroke survivors who did not have the heart condition. About a quarter of patients with stroke and atrial fibrillation were found to have developed dementia during follow-up.
Lead researcher Dr. Phyo Kyaw said:
“These results may help us identify potential treatments that could help delay or even prevent the onset of dementia. Options could include more rigorous management of cardiovascular risk factors or of AF, particularly in stroke patients.”
Most types of dementia are nonreversible (degenerative). Nonreversible means the changes in the brain that are causing the dementia cannot be stopped or turned back. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia also can be due to many small strokes. This is called vascular dementia.
To be healthy and function properly, the brain cells need a good supply of blood. The blood is delivered through a network of blood vessels called the vascular system. If the vascular system within the brain becomes damaged and blood cannot reach the brain cells, the cells will eventually die. This can lead to the onset of vascular dementia.
There are a number of conditions that can cause or increase damage to the vascular system. These include high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol and diabetes. This means it is important that these conditions are identified and treated at the earliest opportunity.
Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed of the progression varies from person to person. Some symptoms may be similar to those of other types of dementia.
Rebecca Wood of Alzheimer’s Research UK concludes:
“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.”
Source: The American Academy of Neurology
Written by Sy Kraft, B.A.