Can a common blood thinner shield your brain from dementia?
NCT ID NCT03061006
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed study looked at whether two different blood thinners—dabigatran (Pradaxa) and warfarin (Coumadin)—could help prevent memory loss and dementia in people over 65 with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). A total of 101 participants were randomly assigned to take one of the two medications and were followed for two years. Researchers tracked changes in thinking skills, dementia diagnoses, and brain scans to see if one drug offered better protection for the brain.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa) and warfarin (Coumadin)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could show that choosing dabigatran over warfarin helps preserve memory and thinking skills in older adults with atrial fibrillation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed Phase 4 trial with only 101 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The study compares two existing drugs, so no new treatment is being developed.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Intermountain Heart Institute
Murray, Utah, 84143, United States
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