Research links echocardiographic measures to dementia risk
New research published in JAMA links findings from echocardiograms with an increased risk of subsequent dementia.
The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study revealed specific measurements of the function of the left atrium displayed on ultrasound images were associated with an individual’s risk of developing dementia.
“Although the evidence linking atrial myopathy to adverse cardiovascular outcomes is compelling, less is known about the association of atrial myopathy with dementia,” Lin Yee Chen, MD, director of cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and co-authors explained. “Because lower LA reservoir function has been associated with presence of silent brain infarcts and white matter hyperintensities, it is possible that atrial myopathy is also associated with dementia.”
Previous studies have found certain electrocardiographic markers (ECG) to be associated with cognitive decline and dementia, but little is known about the correlation between atrial myopathy—characterized by alterations in left atrial function and size—visualized on echocardiograms and an individual’s risk of the neurological disease.
To better understand the possible connections, researchers analyzed the echocardiograms from a community-based cohort of 4,096 patients with no known history of atrial fibrillation or stroke. After baseline imaging and examinations were conducted, the participants were surveilled for a period of six years.
Out of the 4,096 patients, 531 were diagnosed with dementia during the study. Statistically significant associations between lower LA function and dementia were observed when comparing the lowest to the highest quintile of LA function measures (reservoir strain, conduit strain and contractile strain), with the lowest quintile having 1.5 to 2.0 times higher risk of developing the disease. More common measures, such as LA size, were not found to be clinically associated with dementia risk.
“LA function has prognostic value for cardiovascular events that is over and above that provided by LA size. By interrogating a comprehensive set of LA function measures—quantified by speckle tracking and volumetric analysis—this study advances the field by linking LA function measures to dementia risk for the first time,” the experts wrote. “This study also suggests that LA reservoir strain may potentially be used to define abnormal LA function.”
Although their work found positive correlations between impaired LA function and dementia risk, the researchers noted that more studies need to be conducted to confirm their findings.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.