New research has uncovered another tool in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Researchers have learned that by treating atrial fibrillation, a doctor can effectively reduce a patient’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the heart beat becomes chaotic and blood begins to pool, increasing the risk of stroke, clots, heart attack or death. This dangerous condition doubles a person’s chance of developing Alzheimer’s.
Dr. John D. Day of the Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City led two new studies involving the relation between atrial fibrillation and dementia. Day and his team followed 4,200 patients with an average age of 65. All the patients had atrial fibrillation and were treated with a catheter ablation, a procedure to ease the fibrillation.
The 4,200 were compared to 16,800 patients who had the same condition and were the same age but were treated with medication. The first group was also compared against a similar size group and age of people who did not have any heart irregularities. 0.2 percent of the group that underwent the catheter procedure developed Alzheimer’s. The second group that was given medication had a rate of 0.9 percent. Patients without any heart conditions had an Alzheimer’s rate of 0.5.
Day believes blood flow plays a major factor into the development of Alzheimer’s. The medication only treatment was not as effective because people develop a tolerance overtime, weakening the effect of the drugs. He will be presenting his findings at the annual National Heart Rhythm Society meeting in Denver.
source: techjackel
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