Odd Rhythm Linked to Earlier Memory Issues

Older adults with one type of abnormal heart rhythm may be more likely to develop problems with memory and thinking, a study suggests. The study used information on 5,152 people in a long-term health study. All were age 65 and older when the study began. Each year, they took a 100-point test of memory and thinking ability. Researchers kept track of people for an average of 7 years. In that time, 552 developed a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation. This condition involves the heart’s upper chambers, the atria. They beat fast and in a chaotic way instead of a regular pattern. Thinking and memory scores tended to fall faster for those with atrial fibrillation than for other people in the study. Test scores below 78 are linked with dementia. The average score for people with atrial fibrillation dropped below 78 at age 85.