Novel Therapeutic Target of Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation　― Cognitive Decline and Dementia ―

Abstract

an important factor for dementia. 5,6 AF is also a strong risk factor of ischemic stroke 10 and approximately 80% of embolic strokes are caused by non-valvular AF. On the other hand, stroke itself is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. 11 Although prior symptomatic stroke is thought to be part of the cause of dementia in patients with AF, 12 the association between AF and cognitive decline was found even in patients without prior overt stroke. 3 In addition, general risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and aging have much in common for the development of AF, stroke, and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Therefore, the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores, which originally determined the risk stratification of thromboembolism in patients with AF, are also significant predictors of dementia. 4,7 The triangle including AF, stroke, and