Heart Disorder & Its Drug Treatment May Increase Risk Of Dementia, Study Suggests

It is common for people who have atrial fibrillation (AF) to manage the heart condition with a drug called warfarin. However, a new study suggests that both atrial fibrillation and using warfarin may increase a person's risk of dementia.

The researchers found that patients who use warfarin for atrial fibrillation have a greater risk of dementia if the presence of the drug in their blood is always too high or too low. The study also suggests that the increase in the risk of dementia is not only for those who use warfarin for atrial fibrillation but also for those who use the drug for other health conditions.

"If people's levels of warfarin were erratic, their dementia risk was higher, whether they had AF or not," lead researcher Dr. Jared Bunch presented the findings during the Heart Rhythm Society's annual meeting via WebMD. However, Dr. Bunch also noted that there is no definitive proof that warfarin and atrial fibrillation directly cause the increase in the risk of dementia. 

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So what can patients with atrial fibrillation or other health conditions do with their use of warfarin in order to prevent an increase in the risk of dementia? "People need regular blood tests to make sure their warfarin levels are in the 'therapeutic range' -- high enough to prevent clots, but low enough to avoid internal bleeding," WebMD explains.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that involves irregular heartbeat which can possibly lead to blood clots in the heart, according to the American Heart Association. This heart condition can be treated with medication like warfarin to prevent stroke and medical procedures like cardioversion to restore regular heartbeat, NHS Choices shares.