Several studies have linked a common heart arrhythmia to dementia. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of heart arrhythmia and affects at least 3 to 6 million people in the United States alone and over 37 million worldwide. It becomes increasingly common with advanced age and affects up to 9 percent of the population by age 80. While AFib is already proven to increase the risk of stroke, recent studies show it may also play a part in the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heartbeat caused by an electrical malfunction inside the heart. When your heart beats regularly, it contracts and relaxes in a steady rhythm. But when your heart is in AFib, the upper chambers beat quickly, essentially “quivering,” making it feel like your heart skips a beat, is racing, or is fluttering. Many people describe it as feeling like there is a butterfly inside of their chest….