Atrial Fibrillation and the Risk for Neurological Complications

NCT00357227 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 01 GI 0204
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 1,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

B8: Atrial fibrillation and the risk of neurological complications Twenty-five thousand acute strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation every year. But even more frequent than symptomatic strokes are silent infarctions of the brain. Silent strokes remain undetected in most cases, but cumulate over time and progressively impair cognition. The impact of atrial fibrillation on subacute brain infarctions is not yet known. Moreover, it has not been elucidated so far how effective different therapeutic strategies in the treatment of atrial fibrillation prevent cognitive impairment. Thus, this study aims at evaluating the influence of different types of atrial fibrillation on silent strokes and the related impairment in cognitive functions. Other risk factors and cardiovascular diseases that are known to provoke the development of strokes will be assessed as well. So, it will be possible to isolate the contribution of atrial fibrillation to silent strokes and related cognitive impairment in segregation to other relevant factors. AF patients and controls will be examined twice in two years in order to evaluate the role of atrial fibrillation and differential therapeutic interventions with regard to the progression of silent strokes and cognitive impairment in a within subject-design.

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation

Keywords

Atrial fibrillation; Stroke; Vascular Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of permanent, paroxysmal or episodic atrial fibrillation in the past or at present

You may not qualify if:

• Pacemaker
• Metal implants
• History of acute stroke
• Diagnosis of vascular or degenerative dementia
• History of brain tumors
• History of severe brain injury
• History of psychiatric disorders
• Pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital Muenster: lead
• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University Hospital Münster, Dept. of Neurology

Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, 48149, Germany

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation; Stroke; Dementia, Vascular; Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Intracranial Arterial Diseases; Dementia; Leukoencephalopathies; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Cognition Disorders

Study Officials

• Stefan Knecht, Prof.

  University Hospital Münster, Department of Neurology

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Stefan Knecht, Prof.

CONTACT

+49-251-83-; knecht@uni-muenster.de

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: DEFINED POPULATION
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 25, 2006
• First Posted: July 27, 2006
• Study Start: January 1, 2004
• Last Updated: April 19, 2007

Record last verified: 2007-04

Locations

DE (1)