Cerebral vasomotor regulation in atrial fibrillation (CVR-AF)

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Cerebral vasomotor regulation in atrial fibrillation (CVR-AF)

  • IRAS ID

    187559

  • Contact name

    James P. Fisher

  • Contact email

    j.p.fisher@bham.ac.uk

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 11 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Atrial Fibrillation is one of the most common forms of an abnormal heart rhythm. Atrial Fibrillation increases the risk of stroke, cognitive decline and dementia. Research is required to fully understand the reasons for this increased risk and to devise strategies to reduce it. Our work has recently shown that the ability of the arm blood vessels to dilate (i.e. widen) is impaired in atrial fibrillation patients, because the single layer of cells which lines the blood vessels and controls this dilation is damaged. However, it is unknown if the blood vessels in the brains of atrial fibrillation patients are similarly altered. We wish to investigate this because such impairments in the brain blood vessels are linked with stroke, cognitive decline and dementia, and may partly explain why these are so common in atrial fibrillation. Regular physical activity can improve the health of the heart and ‘peripheral’ blood vessels, but it is unknown if it has a positive effect on the brain blood vessels in atrial fibrillation patients.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/WM/0447

  • Date of REC Opinion

    19 Feb 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion