Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in adults, and affects at least 10.55 million people in the US. The condition is known to increase the risk of cognitive impairment. Although regular coffee consumption has been shown to benefit cognition in healthy individuals, how it affects cognitive decline in vulnerable patients remains relatively unclear.
In the current study, researchers explored the link between coffee intake and cognition in elderly individuals aged an average of 73 years old who had atrial fibrillation. For the study, they analyzed data from the Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study, which followed 2,413 people in Switzerland with atrial fibrillation for at least 8 years.
Data included cognitive test results and reports of coffee consumption over the last year according to number of cups consumed. The researchers also analyzed markers of inflammation as both atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer's disease are linked to systematic inflammation.
Higher cognitive test scores were ultimately linked to higher coffee consumption in a dose-response manner. Those who drank the most coffee ie. more than 5 cups per day, had a 6.7-year younger cognitive age than those who drank the least coffee ie. less than one cup per day. Meanwhile, inflammatory markers were over 20% lower among participants who drank the highest amounts of coffee daily compared to those who drank the least.
"Other studies have shown coffee has cognitive-enhancing functions across the board. This, however, is not specific to the AFib population. We cannot conclude that coffee prevents long-term cognitive decline. Coffee does not seem to worsen AFib so there is no need to stop drinking it. However, we cannot say starting to drink coffee would prevent AFib or prevent long-term cognitive decline," said José A. Joglar, M.D., FAHA, professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, not involved in the study, in a press release.
The researchers concluded that further research is needed to confirm their findings and to consider their implementation in dietary counseling and the management of atrial fibrillation.
Sources: Science Daily, Journal of the American Heart Association
