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Impact of atrial fibrillation on the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
- Source :
-
Alzheimer's research & therapy [Alzheimers Res Ther] 2023 Jan 13; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 15. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jan 13. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a strong risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) independent of ischemic stroke. However, the clinicopathological impact of AF on the severity of AD has not been well elucidated. We aimed to investigate the clinical differences between dementia patients with AF and those without AF by means of imaging data.<br />Methods: Following approval from the institutional ethics committee, patients with newly diagnosed AD or amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) were retrospectively screened (n = 170, 79.5 ± 7.4 years old). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Based on the MRI data, the cerebral volume, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), periventricular white matter lesions (WMLs), and deep WMLs were evaluated. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured using <superscript>123</superscript> I-IMP SPECT.<br />Results: Of the patients, 14 (8.2%) and 156 (91.8%) had AF (AF group) and sinus rhythm (SR group), respectively. The AF group had significantly lower MMSE scores than the SR group (average [standard deviation (SD)]: 19.4 [4.4] and 22.0 [4.4], respectively; p = 0.0347). Cerebral volume and CMBs did not differ between the two groups. The periventricular WMLs, but not the deep WMLs, were significantly larger in the AF group than in the SR group (mean [SD] mL: 6.85 [3.78] and 4.37 [3.21], respectively; p = 0.0070). However, there was no significant difference in rCBF in the areas related to AD pathology between the two groups.<br />Conclusion: AD and aMCI patients with AF showed worse cognitive decline along with larger periventricular WMLs compared to those with SR, although the reduction of rCBF was not different between patients with AF and SR. The white matter lesions may be a more important pathology than the impairment of cerebral blood flow in dementia patients with AF. A larger study is needed to confirm our findings in the future.<br /> (© 2023. The Author(s).)
- Subjects :
- Humans
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Brain pathology
Retrospective Studies
Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods
Alzheimer Disease complications
Alzheimer Disease diagnostic imaging
Alzheimer Disease pathology
Atrial Fibrillation complications
Atrial Fibrillation diagnostic imaging
Atrial Fibrillation pathology
Cognitive Dysfunction diagnostic imaging
Cognitive Dysfunction pathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1758-9193
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Alzheimer's research & therapy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36635728
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-023-01165-1