Could Too Much Medication for Irregular Heartbeat Raise Dementia Risk?
People with atrial fibrillation who are over treated with anti-clotting drugs may be doubling their risk for dementia, a new study suggests. Atrial fibrillation causes the upper chambers of the heart to contract quickly and irregularly. These abnormal contractions allow blood to pool in the heart, forming clots that can cause a stroke if they break off and are carried into the brain. However, too much anti-clotting medication may raise the chances of tiny brain bleeds that, over time, might raise the risk of dementia, the researchers said. "This is an important and underappreciated risk of atrial fibrillation," said Dr. Sam Gandy, Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Associate Director, Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "I think that this is very important given the high prevalence of atrial fibrillation.
-Dr. Sam Gandy, Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Associate Director, Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai