Irregular Heartbeat Associated with Memory Loss

According to a new study, rapid and irregular heartbeat may co-relate with the inability to retain memories or think in later life.

Irregular heart beat or atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia which is a problem with the rate of rhythm of the heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation feels like a fluttering in the chest. Many people describe the condition as a "quivering heart". An estimated 2.7 million people living in the U.S. have the condition, says the American Heart Association.  Stroke and heart failure are the major complications of the conditions. And, according to the latest study published in the journal Neurology, the condition might be associated with early loss of memory and thinking among senior citizens.

"Problems with memory and thinking are common for people as they get older. Our study shows that on average, problems with memory and thinking may start earlier or get worse more quickly in people who have atrial fibrillation. This means that heart health is an important factor related to brain health," said Evan L. Thacker, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and one of the study authors.

The study was based on data obtained from people enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The participants were given tests related with memory and thinking every year for about seven years. Also, none of the participants suffered from atrial fibrillation or stroke at the beginning of the study.

By the end of the study, about 11 percent of the study group (552 people out of 5,150 people) had developed atrial fibrillation.

Study results showed that people who developed the condition had an early onset of problems related with memory and thinking, when compared with people who had no such problems.

For example, in the 80-85 age group, the average score on the 100-point test fell about 10 points for people who developed the condition, while it dropped just 6 points for people without atrial fibrillation.

"This suggests that on average, people with atrial fibrillation may be more likely to develop cognitive impairment or dementia at earlier ages than people with no history of atrial fibrillation," Thacker added.