ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: WHAT CORRELATION?

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: WHAT CORRELATION? Aim. Atrial fibrillation (AF), in addition to macroembolic complications, may also produce multiple cerebral ischemic areas due to microembolic phenomena and transient hypoperfusion, eventually leading to a progressive cognitive impairment and even to acclaimed vascular dementia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with AF. The reported results concern data obtained at the moment of recruitment. Methods. The authors studied 42 patients with a history of non valvular AF (paroxysmal, persistent, recurrent or permanent) and 40 homogenous controls in sinus rhythm without pre…