Atrial fibrillation, cognitive impairment, and neuroimaging

Introduction The objective of our study was to investigate cross-sectional associations of atrial fibrillation with neuroimaging measures of cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease and their interactions with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Magnetic resonance imaging scans of individuals from a population-based study were analyzed for infarctions, total gray matter, and hippocampal and white matter hyperintensity volumes. A subsample underwent positron emission tomography imaging. Results Atrial fibrillation was associated with infarctions and lower total gray matter volume. Compared with subjects with no atrial fibrillation and no infarction, the odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for MCI was 2.99 (1.57-5.70; P =.001) among participants with atrial fibrillation and infarction, 0.90 (0.45-1.80; P =.77) for atrial fibrillation and no infarction, and 1.50 (0.96-2.34; P =.08) for no atrial fibrillation and any infarction. Discussion Participants with both atrial fibrillation and infarction are more likely to have MCI than participants with either infarction or atrial fibrillation alone.