title: Atrial Fibrillation, Cognitive Decline And Dementia.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia. Growing evidence supports a role for AF as a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. In this review, we summarize epidemiologic observations linking AF with cognitive outcomes, describe potential mechanisms, and explore the impact of AF treatments on cognitive decline and dementia. Community-based, observational studies show a consistent higher rate of cognitive decline and risk of dementia in persons with AF. These associations are partly due to the increased risk of clinical stroke in AF, but other mechanisms, including incidence of silent cerebral infarcts, microbleeds, and cerebral hypoperfusion, are likely additional contributors. Adequate oral anticoagulation and improved management of the overall cardiovascular risk profile in persons with AF offer the promise of reducing the impact of AF on cognitive decline and dementia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Lipid and Atherosclerosis Unit, IMIBIC/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía/Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain and CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Arenas de Larriva
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; cognitive decline; cognitive impairment; dementia; epidemiology