According to a recent study, the visual ultrasound of the heart (echocardiography) can reveal a higher risk of developing dementia. The study showed that the abnormal left atrial function and size (reservoir strain, conduit strain, and contractile strain), a condition known as atrial myopathy, increases risk of dementia, independently of atrial fibrillation. It is typically caused by aging, inflammation, oxidative stress, and stretching of the atria.
This conclusion is based on the information from observed 4.096 participants aged 35 years on average. From all participants, 531 developed dementia over a 6 year period of time.
