Patients with Alzheimer's disease and atrial fibrillation who took NOACs—newer blood thinners—showed a slower decline in cognitive function than those taking warfarin or no blood thinners, according to research reported by ScienceDaily. The effect was modest but offers an unexpected potential benefit beyond the drugs' usual role in preventing strokes.
The report compares patients on NOACs with those on warfarin and with those not receiving anticoagulant treatment. Researchers found that the NOAC group experienced a slower cognitive decline over the study period, though the difference was not large.
With only one source, there are no conflicting findings to compare here. This should be read as a single study's finding, not a settled clinical recommendation.