BBC News
A common heart disorder has been linked to a raised risk of Alzheimer's disease by US researchers.
Atrial fibrillation causes the heart to beat chaotically, increasing the risk of blood clots and, if the condition is left untreated, stroke.
It has previously been linked to some types of dementia - but not Alzheimer's, the most common form.
The study, by Intermountain Medical Center in Utah, was based on more than 37,000 patients.
The study found atrial fibrillation patients under the age of 70 had a 187% greater risk of all types of dementia compared with the general population.
But their specific risk of Alzheimer's disease was also up - by 130%.
However, the overall risk of Alzheimer's for all patients remained low.
Lead researcher Dr Jared Bunch said: "Previous studies have shown that patients with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk for some types of dementia, including vascular dementia. Read more...
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