New blood thinners linked to slower cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients

A Swedish study published in the European Heart Journal suggests that newer non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) may be associated with slower cognitive decline in patients diagnosed with both Alzheimer’s disease and atrial fibrillation.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet analyzed data from 7,308 individuals using Sweden’s national dementia registry (SveDem) and health records. The study compared three groups: those taking NOACs, those taking the older blood thinner warfarin, and those receiving no anticoagulant treatment. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

The findings indicated that patients using NOACs experienced a slower decline in MMSE scores—approximately 0.21 to 0.23 points per year more than warfarin users or non-users. Professor Maria Eriksdotter noted that the positive effect on cognition might be due to improved blood flow and reduced small-scale brain damage. While the annual difference in scores is modest, researchers suggest the impact could become more significant over longer periods.