Study Finds Strong Link Between Atrial Fibrillation and Increased Dementia Risk

New Delhi: A large-scale European study has revealed a significant link between atrial fibrillation (AF) and the risk of developing dementia, particularly among individuals diagnosed with AF before the age of 70. The findings were presented on Sunday at EHRA 2025, the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology, held in Austria.

According to the researchers, AF—a common heart rhythm disorder—was associated with a 21% higher risk of developing dementia in patients diagnosed under 70 years of age. The association was even more pronounced for early-onset dementia, defined as dementia diagnosed before the age of 65, where the risk rose by 36%.

“This is the largest European population-based study to assess the link between AF and dementia,” said Dr. Julian Rodriguez García from the Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Department at Bellvitge University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. “The strongest association was found in younger adults, especially in cases of early-onset dementia.”

Atrial fibrillation, characterized by an irregular and often rapid heartbeat, affects 2–3% of the general population, with prevalence increasing with age. Although commonly observed in older adults, this study sheds light on the implications of AF in younger age groups.

The research was conducted in Catalonia, Spain, and included data from over 2.5 million individuals, tracked over an average of 13 years. At the study’s outset, 79,820 participants (3.25%) had been diagnosed with AF. While the overall risk increase of dementia linked to AF was modest at 4%, age appeared to significantly influence the association.

Further analysis revealed that in adults aged 45 to 50, those with AF were 3.3 times more likely to develop dementia than those without AF. However, the link between AF and dementia diminished with age and was no longer statistically significant in individuals over 70.

“These findings suggest a critical window for identifying and managing AF earlier in life to potentially reduce dementia risk,” the authors noted. “The association between two major health burdens—AF and dementia—highlights the importance of early cardiovascular intervention.”

The study emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and preventive strategies in younger patients diagnosed with AF, potentially informing future clinical guidelines to address both cardiovascular and cognitive health.