Ablation Significantly Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's Disease, Stroke

New research presented at the National Heart Rhythm Society conference shows ablation treatment can eliminate serious risks associated with atrial fibrillation.

The findings by researchers from the Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Utah reveals treatment of the most common heart rhythm disorder that affects more than two million Americans significantly reduces the risk of stroke, mortality, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia.

According to two new studies by the Intermountain Medical Center research team presented at the the national Heart Rhythm Society's annual scientific sessions, patients with atrial fibrillation treated with catheter ablation are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, and have a significantly reduced risk of stroke and death compared with atrial fibrillation patients who are not treated with ablation.

During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two small upper chambers quiver instead of beating effectively. Blood isn't pumped completely out of them, so it may pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart disorder found in about 2.2 million Americans. Three percent to 5% of people over 65 have atrial fibrillation.

Source: Intermountain Medical Center