MY APPROACH to a patient with atrial fibrillation and dementia

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with multiple forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Although, on the surface, this association may seem an epiphenomenon derived from two diseases of aging, in our prior studies the youngest groups studied, who developed AF had the higher risks for cognitive impairment [1]. In addition, we found that the combined disease state of dementia and AF harbors a significant increased risk for all-cause mortality. As such, defining mechanisms that underlie the association as a means to explore therapeutic strategies of prevention, disease management, and risk reduction is essential. When I encounter a patient, who has AF and is experiencing early cognitive decline or has dementia, my clinical approach reflects our research into the disease states' association.