A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, suggests that older people with irregular heartbeats are more likely to experience problems with thinking and memory.

Memory loss and reduction in thinking capacity have been linked to old age for a very long time. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham found a link between this mental decline and irregular heartbeat. The study states that older people who experience frequent irregular heartbeats, known as atrial fibrillation (AF), are also likely to experience a memory and thinking capability decline.

The disorder is most common in elderly people and can sometimes also lead to strokes. While there are no symptoms for this disorder, people who have it generally complain of chest pain.

"Problems with memory and thinking are common for people as they get older. Our study shows that on average, problems with memory and thinking may start earlier or get worse more quickly in people who have atrial fibrillation," study author Evan L. Thacker, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a press statement. "This means that heart health is an important factor related to brain health."

This study was conducted on a group of older people aged 65 and belonging to four different communities in the U.S. None of these participants had any history of AF or stroke. Their process was tracked for 7 years and each year they were given a 100-marks thinking and memory test.  During the 7 years, among 5,150 participants, 11 percent had developed AF.

The researchers noticed that those with AF were more likely to get lower scores in memory and thinking tests than those with no history of AF. Hence, AF is related to memory and thinking related problems in later life. Thacker also noted that people at age 87 without AF scored an average below 78 out of 100-points, while those with AF scored below 78 at age 85. People scoring below 78 point marker are suggestive of dementia. People with AF scored lower two years earlier than those without AF.

The study is published in an online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.