When they first joined the study, 54 percent of patients were not taking oral anticoagulants such as warfarin or apixaban. They then checked on what drugs had been prescribed, and followed the patients' progress. Researchers identified all patients in Sweden diagnosed with atrial fibrillation between 2006-2014. Scientists had speculated that anticoagulants might stave off dementia because they prevent tiny clots that can cause unnoticed microscopic strokes, a major contributor to cognitive decline. "It is not possible to give placebo to atrial fibrillation patients and then wait for dementia or stroke to occur." "Such studies cannot be done because of ethical reasons," said lead author Leif Friberg, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The strong link with dementia suggests blood thinners are responsible for lowering risk, but clinical trials would be needed to establish cause-and-effect, the scientists said. The study - the largest ever on the link between anticoagulants and dementia in atrial fibrillation patients - looked at data from Swedish health registries covering the period 2006-2014.
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