New evidence suggests individuals experiencing atrial fibrillation (AF) may have a smaller-than-average brain.

In a new study entitled Framingham Heart Study, researchers from Boston University Medical Center used MR to look into the relationship between atrial fibrillation, a cardiovascular condition that increases a patient’s risk of stroke, heart failure, or death, and brain volume.

The researchers used MR to examine total brain volume, as well as volume of specific regions, and they found atrial fibrillation was associated with a smaller frontal lobe volume — even after age, gender, vascular risk factors, and APOE4, a gene that is independently linked to smaller brain volumes, were taken into account.
“It is probably difficult to determine the precise reason frontal brain volumes were related to atrial fibrillation because most people with AF have other comorbidities and other factors,” Dr. Rhoda Au, corresponding author and professor of anatomy and neurobiology, neurology and epidemiology at Boston University Schools of Medicine (BUSM) and Public Health (BUSPH), and director of neuropsychology for the Framingham Heart Study, told HCB News.

Participants from the Framingham Heart study had regular health examinations about every four years and were monitored for the presence of atrial fibrillation. At the seventh exam, the researchers identified those with prevalent AF, and they were offered the option of having a brain MR scan. They were then offered another MR scan five years later, and the images were compared.

“These results speak to the importance of trying to maintain good heart health. Following physician instructions in treatment and monitoring of AF is important to reduce any potential impact on brain health as well,” said Au.

According to Au, future research will focus on determining whether their results have any relation to cognitive skills, such as problem solving, memory and language.

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