Stroke-preventing drugs reduce the risk of dementia

People with atrial fibrillation who take anticoagulants (drugs preventing the blood clots formation) rarely experience the dementia. This conclusion was made by scientists of the Karolinsky Institute. The scientists have analyzed the data of 444106 people from Sweden for 2006-2014. Participants had atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of stroke.

The study showed that the risk of developing dementia was reduced by 29% in the volunteers who took anticoagulants. The risk decreased even more when the participants continued to take the medications. As The Deccan Chronicle notes, 54% of the volunteers did not take oral anticoagulants, such as warfarin or apixaban at the beginning of the study.

The risk of dementia was the highest in the elderly who suffered from Parkinson's disease, abused alcohol and did not take oral anticoagulants. The earlier a person started to take oral anticoagulants, the lower the risk of dementia became. The scientists say that anticoagulants prevent the formation of small blood clots. Such clots can cause micro-strokes that increase the risk of cognitive impairment.

Source: The Deccan Chronicle.