Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation, brain glymphatic function, and cognitive performance
Authors' conclusion
Brain glymphatic function measured by DTI-ALPS index was impaired in patients with AF, mediates the association between AF and cognitive decline, and was improved after ablation therapy.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and healthy controls
- Participants
- 87 vs 44
- Comparison
- AF vs healthy controls; before vs after catheter ablation
- AFn = 87
- Healthy controls (HCs)n = 44reference
- Outcome
- Brain glymphatic activity by DTI-ALPS index (MRI)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
ALPS index
- Nonparoxysmal AF: lower ALPS index than HCs
- P = .002
- Nonparoxysmal AF: lower ALPS index than paroxysmal AF
- P = .044
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cognitive tests (Trail Making, Digit Symbol Substitution, Digit Span, Stroop Colour and Word)
- Lower ALPS index associated with worse scores
- all P < .05
- Glymphatic activity mediated association between AF and cognitive decline
DTI-ALPS index after ablation (50 ablated patients) · after surgery
- DTI-ALPS index improved after ablation
- P = 0.015
Original publication
Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation, brain glymphatic function, and cognitive performance. Eur Heart J. Published 21 February 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →