Spring Arbor Living Blog

As our population ages, people with chronic cardiovascular disease, including atrial fibrillation (or irregular heartbeat), are living longer. In a study reported in the journal Heart Rhythm (Volume 7, page 433) researchers reported that atrial fibrillation may be associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Over 37,000 people, average age 60, from the ongoing Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study database were evaluated for signs of atrial fibrillation and for Alzheimer's disease or vascular, senile or nonspecific dementia. During an average of five years' follow-up, 4 percent developed dementia and 27 percent developed atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation was associated with each of the four types of dementia, independent of other cardiovascular diseases. The youngest group with atrial fibrillation (under age 70) had the highest risk of dementia; dementia is linked to older age, so this finding suggests the relationship between atrial fibrillation and dementia is particularly strong. Atrial fibrillation was also linked with the highest risk of death.

Take away: Because subjects with atrial fibrillation were identified as having higher risks of dementia and death, people with cardiovascular diseases -- who are urged to consider measures like diet, exercise, medication and avoiding tobacco for their heart disease -- might want to take these steps also to prevent or delay the development of Alzheimer's.

All the facts you need to make informed decisions if you have to confront Alzheimer's disease -- the most common cause of dementia

Written by Dr. Peter V. Rabins, director of the Division of Geriatric and Neuropsychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Medical Editor of the Johns Hopkins Memory Bulletin, Diagnosing and Treating Alzheimer's Disease is an indispensable resource for anyone concerned about Alzheimer's disease. This new report provides all the facts you need to make informed decisions if you have to confront Alzheimer's disease. You'll learn how Alzheimer's is currently diagnosed ... the existing drugs that are used to treat it ... and various new therapies that may someday provide better treatment.

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With the passage of time, most of us will notice changes in our memory or thinking. Forgetfulness is a normal part of getting older, but dementia  and Alzheimer's disease is not.

Yet, with good reason, we all worry.

Today, one in ten people 65 and older has Alzheimer's disease - about 5 million people. Yet only half of these people have actually been diagnosed with the disease. The rest don't even know they have it! And it's estimated that by 2050 as many as 16 million people will have Alzheimer's.

We read these statistics and wonder if and when it will it happen to me or someone in my family?"

If you're concerned because you've experienced recurring "senior moments". . . if you have any history of Alzheimer's or related memory disorders in your family. . . if a loved one has been showing signs of memory loss that concern you. . . if you are caring for someone recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's and are wondering about a new drug or therapy. . . it is critically important to learn everything you can about the disease so you can make informed decisions about getting the correct Alzheimer’s care, diagnosis and treatment. Partner with your doctor effectively, ask the right questions, and understand the answers.

For most people, Alzheimer's progresses very slowly. Deterioration of thinking, memory, and judgment are gradual. So you have time to learn about Alzheimer's, to make the best treatment choices, and to plan for the future.

Where Does Normal Forgetfulness End and Mild Cognitive Impairment Begin?

Some experts think that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the earliest manifestation of Alzheimer's. There is no definitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s - but clinical information from the patient's history and mental status exams are accurate about 90% of the time.

After screening for Alzheimer's, then what? Currently, there are 4 "symptomatic therapies" for Alzheimer's disease - drugs that can improve symptoms better than a placebo, but cannot cure patients or reverse the disease. Researchers estimate that only about 15% of Alzheimer’s patients actually take these medications.

Information from Johns Hopkins

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