By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) — The common irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (a-fib) may increase the risk of dementia, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that people newly diagnosed with a-fib had a 13% higher risk of developing dementia, the progressive loss of memory and thinking skills. The risk was even higher (65%) among those who developed a-fib before age 65 and in people who did not have chronic kidney disease (20%).
“The health consequences of atrial fibrillation may be broader than originally recognized in certain individuals,” said lead researcher Dr. Nisha Bansal, a professor of…
