A simple heart scan can predict whether a person will develop dementia in the next 10 years, a study has revealed.
In a study led by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, the researchers found that older people who had problems with the left atrium of the heart were 30 times more likely to develop dementia. The percentages were high. The chances of getting this disease were there even if there were no symptoms of heart problems.
The left atrium carries oxygenated blood to other organs including the brain. If there is a problem in this compartment, it will reduce the blood supply to the brain, which can lead to dementia.
Atrial cardiopathy is a term used for a variety of conditions that can cause problems with the left atrium working properly. These conditions can cause strokes and irregular heartbeats, and both of these complex conditions have also been associated with dementia.
In the study, the researchers said that this discovery could lead to new medical procedures.
The study, published in the American Heart Association, examined 5,078 people from North Carolina, Maryland and Mississippi. The average age of the participants in the study was 75 years.
