Deseret News | Reader comments: Link to Alzheimer's

Reader comments
Link to Alzheimer's

LDS Missionary in Peru | 7:37 a.m. May 15, 2009

Well, that didn't brighten my day. I'm a 64-year-old with a history of atrial fibrillation (now "cured" through an ablation), sleep apnea (controlled with a CPAP machine), and ... I can't remember what else. My wife's been saying for years that I'm out of my mind. I guess she's right.

Saintly Gent | 7:51 a.m. May 15, 2009

Perhaps some people just live too long. Paradise awaits! Why the loitering on this old planet?

I'm not worried | 8:39 a.m. May 15, 2009

I've got occasional atrial fibrillation, but so did my Dad and my Uncle, and both lived into their 80s and never had Alzheimer's.

As the article says, it's not predictive, but it can be a factor. Get it treated and you should be okay.

Comments continue below

Sue. | 9:13 a.m. May 15, 2009

My husband had atrial fibrillation for several years, he was under doctors care. One day he was here one minute and gone the next. He lead a very clean life and watched his diet very carefully. He also swam and walked every day. THe doctors told me that all his arteries were clear and clean. He has been gone nearly 14 years and I know that since that time great strides have been made in improving the care of heart patients. If you are someone who suffers from these heart palpitations, I urge you to see a cardiologist immediately. before it is too late. It is hard on those who are left behind. Sue.

Actually, | 12:42 p.m. May 15, 2009

It's much easier than that to predict.

Those who voted for Obama are showing early signs of Alzheimers. Problem is, they don't know that they don't know it.

Banyon | 12:59 p.m. May 15, 2009

It is undiagnosed/untreated sleep apnea that is causing so much Alzheimer's and dementia. Science takes too long time to prove things.

Make sure the diagnosis is right | 1:10 p.m. May 15, 2009

The article doesn't mention how they confirmed it was Alzheimer's - since atrial fibrillation has such a high risk of causing strokes, it would be awfully important to make sure the dementia isn't from a vascular problem (small clots/strokes, etc.) instead, before calling it all "Alzheimer's." Lots of people are misdiagnosed with "Alzheimer's" when there is really something more treatable going on (Parkinson's, strokes, depression, etc. - even hearing loss). Make sure all those treatable things are not there before just calling it Alzheimer's or plain "old age."

CrohnieToo | 3:32 p.m. May 15, 2009

Nah,Actually, it is those who put BushBaby and Cheney back in for a second term who have the Alzheimer's/Dementia problem.

I'm rather curious what tests are used to confirm AF and especially silent AF.

Dr. Scripter | 6:10 p.m. May 15, 2009

You can do a Google search [atrial fibrillation nutritional deficiencies] and find correlations with many deficiencies with atrial fibrillation. of course, there is no money for big medicine in addressing nutritional deficiencies.

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