Highlights
- •Relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia is largely established.
- •Scarce data are available about AF determining dementia in very old subjects.
- •The limited data available does not support AF causative role for dementia in older.
- •Poor anticoagulation control is associated with higher risk of dementia in older AF.
- •Data from larger studies are still needed to clarify this relationship.
Abstract
Background
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia are largely prevalent and incident in progressively
older subjects, suggesting a link between the two conditions. While in the general
population there are several findings supporting a causal relationship between AF
and dementia, it is unclear whether or not this association is still present in individuals
aged 80 and older.
Results
So far, the few studies that analysed this issue did not provide enough evidence supporting
the causative role of AF in increasing the risk of cognitive decline or dementia in
patients aged 80 and older. Conversely, a relevant role of optimal anticoagulation
control in determining a significant reduction in the risk of cognitive decline is
suggested, in AF subjects aged 80 years or older.
Conclusions
Further data, coming from population-based studies specifically investigating very
old individuals and based upon large samples and comprehensive cognitive assessments,
are needed to fully elucidate the relationship between AF and dementia in very old
individuals.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 09, 2017
Accepted:
August 8,
2017
Received in revised form:
July 25,
2017
Received:
June 27,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Federation of Internal Medicine.
