21 Jun Some Common Blood Pressure Meds Linked to Less Memory Decline

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Nation

Daniel A. Nation, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor of Psychological Science
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders
University of California, Irvin

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Hypertension is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, and treatment of hypertension has been linked to decreased risk for cognitive impairment.

Prior studies have attempted to identify which specific type of antihypertensive treatment conveys the most benefit for cognition, but findings have been mixed regarding this question.  We hypothesized that antihypertensive drugs acting on the brain angiotensin system may convey the greatest benefit since they affect the brain angiotensin system that has been implicated in memory function.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: After analysis of data from 14 studies across 6 countries, we found that older adults taking antihypertensive drugs that access the brain angiotensin system show less memory decline over 3 years than those taking the same type of drug that does not access the brain.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: People taking those medications show better memory than people taking similar medications that do not access the brain.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: Further study of the brain angiotensin system, its role in memory and cognitive decline, and the potential benefits of therapeutically targeting this system to prevent or treat memory decline.

No disclosures.

Citation:

Jean K. Ho, Frank Moriarty, Jennifer J. Manly, Eric B. Larson, Denis A. Evans, Kumar B. Rajan, Elizabeth M. Hudak, Lamiaa Hassan, Enwu Liu, Nobuyuki Sato, Naoyuki Hasebe, Danielle Laurin, Pierre-Hugues Carmichael, Daniel A. Nation. Blood-Brain Barrier Crossing Renin-Angiotensin Drugs and Cognition in the Elderly: A Meta-Analysis. Hypertension, 2021; DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.17049

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Last Updated on June 21, 2021 by Marie Benz MD FAAD