Heart Rhythm Disorder Linked to Alzheimer's

Tue, July 07 2009 01:45:00 PM EST

Men and women with a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, a new study reports. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that links heart and brain health.

Atrial fibrillation, or "A-fib," strikes more than two million Americans. It is especially common in seniors, affecting one in nine people over 80. It occurs when the upper chambers of the heart quiver erratically instead of beating steadily. Young people may have the disorder as well but not even know it because atrial fibrillation may have few or no symptoms. Doctors do an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to diagnose the condition.

Other studies have shown that heart risks like high cholesterol, hardening of the arteries and other forms of cardiovascular disease are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's. This study shows that heart rhythm problems may predispose a person to dementia as well. Doctors from the Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City presented the findings at the Heart Rhythm Society medical conference in Boston on May 15.

The Utah researchers studied medical files from more than 37,000 men and women and found that overall, those with atrial fibrillation were 44 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia that people without the heart problem. People younger than 70 with A-fib were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's than their heart-healthy peers.

In addition, those with Alzheimer's who also had A-fib were 61 percent more likely to die over the five-year course of the study than those without the heart problem.

Previous studies have shown that patients with A-fib are at higher risk for some types of dementia, including those related to poor blood flow in the brain. "But to our knowledge, this is the first large-population study to clearly show that having atrial fibrillation puts patients at greater risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," said Intermountain Medical Center cardiologist T. Jared Bunch, M.D., the study's lead researcher.

One reason why A-fib may lead to brain problems is that the condition causes blood to collect and stay put for a while and possibly clot. If the clot leaves the heart, it can lodge in the brain and cause a stroke or series of "mini"-strokes that cause brain cells to die.

No one knows what causes A-fib. Recent research suggests some cases may be inherited. Stress, smoking, heavy drinking, obesity and a range of illnesses also raise the risk of developing the condition and the likelihood that it will be more difficult to treat.

The study authors say more research is needed to explore further the relationship between A-fib and the development of Alzheimer's disease.

"Now that we've established this link, our focus will be to see if early treatment of A-fib can prevent dementia or the development of Alzheimer's disease," said cardiologist John Day, M.D., director of heart rhythm services at Intermountain Medical Center and a co-author of the study.

By ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer's Information Site. Reviewed by William J. Netzer, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University.

Source: May 15, "Heart Rhythm 2009," the annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society, Boston.

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Comment On This Story Reviews : 8 User Rating : Annonymous - 8/14/2009 PLEASE I FORGOT TO ASK FROM YOU, AS YOU SAID THAT THE ALZHEIMER CAN BE CAUSED BY CHOLESTEROL.WHAT DO YOU THINK I CAN DO TO DO AWAY WITH IT. CAN THIS CAUSE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? Annonymous - 8/14/2009 infact am affraid the more when i read this story, i must confess that you people are really doing graet. i Want more update on the issue from time to time. Thanks. trish williams - 7/23/2009 think this is guite true as recently been diagnosed with af, so all seems to make sense to me, as I have had a couple of strokes, and continue to have mini strokes althought the Drs do not know why as I am on all the medication they can give me, so think the answer does lie in the link between the heart and the brain. Jocelyn - 7/9/2009 My husband has Alzheimer's and was diagnose approx 2.5 years ago, he also has AF, He had his first attack of AF back in 1989. He is now on medication for BP & Cartia for blood thining, his brain scan showed no sign of blood clots but it does make you wonder. Our eldest son also gets AF but only mildly and two of my husband's brothers also have it, however they have no sign of Alz. at this stage Elizabeth Adam - 7/8/2009 This makes hypothesis makes perfect sense to me. My mother had Rheumatic Fever at 19 and was finally diagnosed with arthrosclerosis more than 33 year later. She was diagnosed with "premature vascular contractions" nearly 20 after that. At the age of 80, she had cataract surgery, which was a success, however, she slept for the next 3 days and soon after I began to notice small signs that eventually lead to a diagnosis of “dementia”. Her decline lasted 9 years when her heart eventually ended her life. I hope this information will prove helpful for future research. Thank you. Yvonne Crump - 7/8/2009 My husband has advanced alzheimers and has AF which did lead to 3 TIA attacks. Your findings certainly seem to indicate this may be the cause of his alzheimers now. Too late for us but a major breakthrough for future generations hopefully. Bert - 7/8/2009 I have early memory loss and mri results show atrophy to the hippocampus region of my brain for a person of my age (57). I had a half sister who passed away at 62 from alzhheimers and I am now taking Aricept with some improvement in my loss of finding my words to say. I have been having heart problems, swelling of legs and feet for the past 5 years and hypertension for 20 years, but just in the last 2 years dx with A-Fib. This article hit home in a "heart beat". Thanks as always for staying on top of the news! Rose Lamatt - 7/8/2009 Excellent article. I took care of my dear friend with Alzheimer's. Before she came down with brain symptoms, she had heart rhythm disturbance, prolapsed valve. She threw PAC's all the time, and would almost pass out. This was in 1990 so little at time was known of AD. I'm glad finally research is moving faster, because this disease needs to be stopped. Rose Lamatt Submit your Review