Upon examining how catheter treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib) impacts dementia risk, researchers discovered that this treatment had the capacity to reduce one's risk of developing dementia.
Atrial Fibrillation
According to Medical News Today, atrial fibrillation is a cardiovascular condition wherein upper heart chambers have irregular beating. This results in the reduced flow of blood towards the lower heart chambers.
The condition can lead to discomfort among patients and boost stroke risk by a whopping five times. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition was cited in 183,321 death certificates across the US.
As per Healthline, AFib is one of the most common conditions pertaining to irregular heart rhythm. Moreover, it is projected that by 2030, there will be around 12 million individuals across the US dealing with AFib.
Catheter Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation May Reduce Dementia Risk
One of its treatments, catheter ablation, destroys the tissue that is the culprit behind the irregular rhythm. In such a procedure, a flexible tube is added to blood vessels all the way to the heart.
Now, in a recent study, researchers have discovered that atrial fibrillation patients that underwent catheter treatments had a reduced likelihood of developing cognitive issues. This was in comparison to those who were only treated with medication. The findings are set to be presented during the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.
As part of the study, there were 887 participants with AFib and whose ages were an average of 75 years old. Among these participants, 193 (21.8%) underwent catheter ablation before the study enrolment, while the rest of the participants only received AFib medication.
The researchers looked into the baseline of the participants' cognitive function and also after one and two years. Cognitive scores had a tally of 30, while scores 23 and below were equivalent to impairments in cognition.
They discovered that participants who underwent catheter ablation had a mean score of 25, while those who received medications alone had a mean score of 23.
Going further, the researchers adjusted for factors, including renal disease, sleep apnea, and heart conditions. They discovered that those who went through catheter ablation had a 36% less likelihood of developing cognitive impairments compared to those who only received medications.
They did note, however, in terms of heart attack events, there were no significant differences between those that underwent catheter ablation and medication.
According to Dr. Aaron Ritter, the director at the Memory & Cognitive Disorders Program of Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach who did not participate in the study, there could be several reasons why this treatment reduces dementia risk.
He explains his opinions that ablation is more long-lasting and definitive compared to medication management. He notes that among individuals with memory issues, it is important to question if issues pertaining to compliance affect the outcome.
He also notes how it can be hypothesized that because ablation successfully treats AFib, individuals may have fewer blood clots or have more consistent oxygen and blood delivery to the brain.
Study Limitations
Dr. Fanny Elahi, a scientist, physician, and assistant professor of neuroscience, neurology, and pathology, as well as cellular-based and molecular medicine, notes that though the findings are exciting, it is necessary to conduct further research to know more about the link between dementia and catheter ablation, especially as the study has a more observational nature.
Dr. Ritter also adds that the main limitation of the study is that cerebral blood flow was not measured as an accompaniment to the cognitive tests. Another limitation was that the assessment using a 30-point test was quite limited.
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