Mapping the interplay of atrial fibrillation, brain structure, and cognitive dysfunction.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Understanding the cognitive sequelae and brain structural changes associated with AF is vital for addressing ensuing health care needs.

Methods and results

We examined 1335 stroke-free individuals with AF and 2683 matched controls using neuropsychological assessments and multimodal neuroimaging. The analysis revealed that individuals with AF exhibited deficits in executive function, processing speed, and reasoning, accompanied by reduced cortical thickness, elevated extracellular free-water content, and widespread white matter abnormalities, indicative of small vessel pathology. Notably, brain structural differences statistically mediated the relationship between A

SUBMITTER: Petersen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11247702 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature