Hypertension drugs may reduce Alzheimer's risk
The scientists, reporting in the journal British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Jan. 12, 2010, say a class of hypertension medications, Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) may have an important part in slashing down the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in older people, as well as also slowing the disease’s progression.
Details of the study
Researchers from the Boson University School of Medicine looked at the database of United States Department of Health System Veterans Affairs of almost 8,20,000 mostly male patients aged over 65 from 2002 to 2006. All of these had heart disease as well.
For the study, subjects were divided into three groups: an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) taking group, an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor taking group called lisinopril group and the third group comprised of those who used other blood pressure or heart disease drugs, excluding statins.
There were no differences in average blood pressure among the three groups.
Hopeful results
The subjects who were taking ARB had a 19 percent lower risk of developing dementia as compared to subjects in the lisinopril group.
There was a 24 percent reduced risk compared to use of other blood pressure/heart medications.
Individuals who were taking a combination of an ABR and ACE had a 46 percent lower risk of dementia compared with those taking other medications.
Interestingly, study authors also found that subjects who already had Alzheimer’s disease, rates of nursing home admission were also significantly lower in those taking angiotensin receptor blockers as compared to patients taking other anti-hypertensive drugs.
The findings of the study suggest that ARBs might somewhat protect against developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
According to Benjamin Wolozin, MD, PhD, professor of pharmacology at Boston University, and one of the study researchers said, “For those who already have dementia, use of ARBs might delay deterioration of brain function and help keep patients out of nursing homes."
“The study is particularly interesting because we compared the effects of ARBs to other medications used for treating blood pressure or cardiovascular disease," he added.
The study authors feel that more study is needed to justify the results.
However, some scientists look at this study with the hope that development and progression of Alzheimer's could be prevented using such drugs in future.
About dementia
According to Alzheimer's Society, dementia is a term used to describe various different brain disorders that have in common a loss of brain function that is usually progressive and eventually severe. Dementia occurs when nerve cells in the brain are not working properly, meaning it is unable to process signals.
More than 24 million people globally suffers from loss of memory, problems with orientation, impaired thinking and other symptoms that point out towards Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
