Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment. Regular coffee consumption shows cognitive benefits in healthy people. Whether regular intake reduces cognitive decline in vulnerable patients is controversial. In a new study, scientists from Zurich University Hospital and elsewhere investigated the link with atrial fibrillation in older people.
Coffee consumption in patients with atrial fibrillation may be associated with improved cognitive performance and decreased inflammatory markers. Image credit: Sci.News.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 5% of the population over the age of 65 and increasing exponentially thereafter.
AF increases thromboembolic stroke risk fivefold. Moreover, it represents an independent risk factor for developing mild cognitive impairment and dementia, with odds ratios ranging from 2.3 to 5.8, respectively.
AF is associated with increased incidence of vascular cognitive impairment, increased size and number of strokes, as well as increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation states that abstaining from caffeine to prevent heart rhythm disturbances is not beneficial for AF patients.
The guidelines also suggest that for patients who report that caffeine causes or worsens symptoms of atrial fibrillation, including rapid heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue, cutting back on coffee may reduce symptoms. It is also pointed out that there is.
Dr. Massimo Barbagallo, a researcher at Zurich University Hospital, said: “Regular consumption of coffee is known to improve cognitive performance in healthy people.”
“Atrial fibrillation, the most frequently occurring arrhythmia, is known to increase the risk of dementia on its own.”
“The question, therefore, is whether coffee can offset the increased risk of cognitive impairment in patients with atrial fibrillation.”
The Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study (Swiss-AF) is following over 2,400 people in Switzerland diagnosed with AF.
Patients were enrolled between 2014 and 2017, completed several cognitive tests, and asked how many cups of caffeinated coffee they had consumed in the past 12 months, regardless of added sweeteners, cream, or flavors. reported. Cup sizes were not standardized.
In a new study, Dr. Barbagallo and his colleagues analyzed these cognitive assessments to see whether drinking coffee can avoid cognitive decline, a known risk of atrial fibrillation.
Because Alzheimer's disease and atrial fibrillation are associated with systemic inflammation, the researchers also analyzed inflammatory markers.
Overall, higher scores on cognitive tests were associated with higher coffee intake. Specifically, scores for processing speed, visuomotor coordination, and attention were significantly improved by 11% in coffee consumers compared to non-consumers.
People who drank the most coffee were calculated to have a cognitive age 6.7 years younger than those who drank the least.
Participants who drank five drinks a day had more than 20% lower inflammatory markers than those who drank less than one drink a day.
“There was a very clear and consistent 'dose-response' association between drinking more coffee and performance on several advanced cognitive tests,” said Professor Jürg Biel of the University of Zurich. ” he said.
“Inflammatory markers decreased with increasing coffee intake. This association remained even after accounting for variables such as age, gender, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, and stroke history.”
“Previous studies have shown that the protective effect of regular coffee consumption against cognitive decline in older adults may be due to caffeine and other active ingredients such as magnesium and vitamin B3 (niacin). It has been suggested that this may be due to coffee's role in reducing chemicals that cause inflammation.
of findings Published in American Heart Association Journal.
_____
massimo barbagallo others. Coffee intake correlates with improved cognitive performance in patients with a high incidence of stroke. American Heart Association Journalpublished online on December 14, 2024. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.034365
Source: www.sci.news
