The Atrial Fibrillation-Dementia Connection: Current Knowledge and Future Directions July 2022

Linda Moulton, RN, MS Faculty: Order and Disorder EP Training Program, Critical Care ED/CCE Consulting, Calistoga, California The presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimers disease (AD) and all forms of dementia.1-4 The risk of dementia in AF has been found to be 34%-40% higher than for those without AF.5-6 This is true independent of the presence of stroke.7 The relationship is also seen to be stronger for those who develop AF at an earlier age, and therefore, have AF for a longer duration.7-10