Modern blood thinners slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients

People with both atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer's disease who are treated with modern NOAC blood-thinning medicines may experience a slower rate of cognitive decline. This is shown by a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the European Heart Journal.

Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disorder among older people, including many with Alzheimer's disease. The condition is often treated with blood-thinning medication to reduce the risk of blood clots. Previous studies suggest that anticoagulant treatment may lower the risk of developing dementia, but its impact in patients with established Alzheimer's disease is less well understood.

"There are reasons to believe that the treatment could have a positive effect on cognition, for example by improving blood flow and reducing small-scale damage in the brain," says Maria Eriksdotter, professor at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, and senior consultant in geriatric medicine at Karolinska University Hospital, who led the study.

The study is based on data from the national quality register SveDem (Swedish Register for Cognitive Disorders/Dementia) and includes 7,308 people with both atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer's disease. The participants were divided into three matched groups: those treated with newer anticoagulants known as NOACs, those receiving the older anticoagulant warfarin (Waran), and those not using any anticoagulant medication. The researchers monitored the participants' cognitive function over time using the standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).