Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
08:36
Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
Published on: April 19, 2024
607
Anticoagulants and Dementia: A Systematic Review
Amy E Kalloo1, Ethan Slouha2, Connor P Gallagher2
1Clinical Sciences, St. George's University School of Medicine, True Blue, GRD.
Cureus
|July 3, 2023
Summary
Anticoagulants may protect against dementia in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) showed protective effects, while Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) had mixed results, and antiplatelet therapy might increase dementia risk.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently linked to dementia development.
- Antithrombotic medications are standard for stroke prevention in AF patients.
- Emerging evidence suggests anticoagulants might offer protection against dementia in AF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the incidence of dementia in atrial fibrillation patients prescribed anticoagulants.
- To analyze the differential effects of various anticoagulant classes on dementia risk.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review of experimental studies and meta-analyses.
- Searches conducted on PubMed, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect using keywords related to dementia and anticoagulants.
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria applied to 53,306 initial articles, resulting in 29 selected studies.
Main Results:
- Oral anticoagulants (OACs) generally showed a decreased risk of dementia.
- Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) were specifically associated with dementia protection.
- Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) yielded conflicting results regarding dementia risk, with warfarin showing some benefit but less than DOACs.
- Antiplatelet therapy was linked to an increased dementia risk in AF patients.
Conclusions:
- DOACs demonstrate a potential protective effect against dementia in AF patients.
- The role of VKAs in dementia prevention is uncertain, with varying outcomes reported.
- Antiplatelet therapy may be associated with an elevated risk of dementia in this population.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
1.2K
Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
1.2K
01:30Dementia
141
Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
141
01:30Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
763
Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
763
01:22Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
220
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
220
01:29Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
10
Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
10
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
527
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
527