{"id":813814,"date":"2026-08-14T22:18:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T22:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/813814\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T22:18:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T22:18:09","slug":"alzheimers-common-blood-thinner-may-slow-cognitive-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/813814\/","title":{"rendered":"Alzheimer\u2019s: Common Blood Thinner May Slow Cognitive Decline"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OlderShare on Pinterest<\/a>New research suggests that newer blood thinners may not only protect against strokes but also support brain health in people with Alzheimer\u2019s. Tatiana Maksimova\/Moment\/Getty ImagesA study has found that blood thinners called NOACs may slow cognitive decline in those with Alzheimer\u2019s.Alzheimer\u2019s patients with AFib are prone to brain damage from \u201csilent strokes.\u201dHowever, blood thinners can help prevent the formation of the clots that cause these strokes.Experts say NOACs are safer and more predictable than warfarin, a common blood thinner.The findings have implications for improving treatment for those with Alzheimer\u2019s by making it safer to prescribe blood thinners.<\/p>\n

A nationwide Swedish study sheds light on how blood thinners might help slow cognitive decline in people with both atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm, and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

The researchers specifically examined newer blood thinners<\/a> called non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs).<\/p>\n

The study, published August 12 in the European Heart Journal<\/a>, suggests that these newer blood thinners may not only protect against strokes but also support brain health.<\/p>\n

NOAC blood thinners may offer greater cognitive benefits than older medications such as warfarin<\/a> or no anticoagulant treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are reasons to believe that the treatment could have a positive effect on cognition, for example by improving blood flow and reducing small-scale damage in the brain,\u201d lead study co-author Maria Eriksdotter<\/a>, professor at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at the Karolinska Institutet, and senior consultant in geriatric medicine at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, said in a news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The researchers used data from several linked national Swedish registries to study over 7,300 individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a> who also had AFib<\/a> before their dementia<\/a> diagnosis. <\/p>\n

These registries included detailed information on dementia diagnoses, cognitive test scores, hospital visits, prescription medications, and deaths. <\/p>\n

The key measure of cognitive function was the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a widely used test that assesses memory, attention, and other cognitive skills.<\/p>\n

The study looked at patients\u2019 use of blood thinners around the time they were diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s. <\/p>\n

People were grouped into three categories: <\/p>\n

those not taking blood thinnersthose taking warfarin (an older blood thinner)those taking NOACs (newer blood thinners)<\/p>\n

The researchers followed these individuals for up to 5 years, tracking changes in their cognitive test scores and recording important health events like strokes, major bleeding, fractures, and death.<\/p>\n

To make fair comparisons, the team used statistical methods to balance differences between the groups, such as age, other health conditions, and medication use. <\/p>\n

This approach helps account for differences between the groups that could otherwise influence the results.<\/p>\n

The study found that people taking NOACs experienced a slower decline in cognitive function compared to those on warfarin or those not taking any blood thinner. <\/p>\n

While warfarin users did not show a significant difference in memory loss compared to non-users, NOAC users showed a modest but meaningful slowing in the rate of decline. <\/p>\n

According to the researchers, this suggests that NOACs might have an added benefit beyond stroke prevention in patients with both heart rhythm problems and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

In addition to cognitive benefits, NOAC users had lower risks of stroke, death, and fractures compared to those not on blood thinners. <\/p>\n

Further, NOACs did not increase the risk of major bleeding, a common concern with blood thinners. <\/p>\n

Warfarin users also had fewer strokes and deaths than non-users but faced a higher risk of serious bleeding.<\/p>\n

When directly comparing NOACs to warfarin, NOACs were associated with fewer strokes and less major bleeding, which aligns with previous research in the general population. <\/p>\n

This is especially relevant for patients with Alzheimer\u2019s, who have been underrepresented in clinical studies.<\/p>\n

The researchers also noted that managing warfarin can be challenging, especially for people with cognitive impairment, which may affect adherence to treatment. <\/p>\n

The newer NOACs are generally easier to use, which could partly explain their better outcomes.<\/p>\n

Overall, the findings suggest that NOACs may offer advantages over warfarin for patients with atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer\u2019s disease, including a potential benefit in slowing cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur findings suggest that NOAC treatment may also be significant for cognition in this patient group,\u201d lead study co-author Nanbo Zhu<\/a>, researcher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, said in a news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bhaskar Semitha<\/a>, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon with ClinicSpots, said that to understand why blood thinners help Alzheimer\u2019s patients, it\u2019s important to look at the consequences of AFib. Semitha wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn AFib, the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating effectively, allowing blood to pool and form microscopic clots<\/a>,\u201d he told Healthline. \u201cThese micro-emboli are constantly pumped into the brain, causing \u2018silent strokes.’\u201d<\/p>\n

This leads to continuous damage of the smaller blood vessels of the brain, depriving the brain tissue of oxygen, and speeding up cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

However, the use of NOACs \u201cchanges the equation,\u201d Semitha said.<\/p>\n

First of all, they are more predictable and safe for Alzheimer\u2019s patients compared to warfarin. <\/p>\n

\u201c[M]emory issues led to missed or doubled doses, and the drug required strict dietary limitations and constant blood monitoring,\u201d he said. \u201cWarfarin also carries a relatively high risk of intracranial hemorrhage.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the other hand, NOACs have highly predictable pharmacokinetics, require no routine blood monitoring, and have a lower risk of spontaneous brain bleeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy safely neutralizing the micro-clots caused by AFib, NOACs protect the remaining healthy brain tissue from ischemic<\/a> damage without introducing the severe bleeding risks of older drugs,\u201d said Semitha.<\/p>\n

This will alter the risk-benefit analysis that physicians perform when treating elderly patients, he added.<\/p>\n

Currently, doctors hesitate to prescribe blood thinners because of the danger that patients will fall and suffer from a brain bleed.<\/p>\n

However, the ability of NOACs to preserve cognitive function and slow dementia progression will now outweigh this fear.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Semitha said there will be a shift to dual-purpose prescribing.<\/p>\n

\u201cCardiologists and neurologists will increasingly view NOACs not just as a stroke-prevention tool for the heart, but as an active, disease-modifying, neuroprotective therapy for the brain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will encourage far closer collaboration between cardiovascular and neurological care teams.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestNew research suggests that newer blood thinners may not only protect against strokes but also support…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":813815,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[97,243],"class_list":["post-813814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-medication","tag-health","tag-medication"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=813814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813814\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/813815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=813814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=813814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=813814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}