A prospective cohort study published in JAMA Network Open found that catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation was not associated with short-term cognitive decline. Key findings:A group of 75 ablation patients and a group of 40 nonablation patients suffering from atrial fibrillation were included in the study. In the ablation group, there were 40 females and the average age was 61.9 years old, 54 patients underwent cryoballoon ablation while 21 underwent pulmonary vein ablation. Neuroimaging carried out after the procedure did not indicate any new cerebral infarcts among ablation patients during the 48-hour period following catheter ablation treatment. Global and Domain-Specific Cognitive Outcomes After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.