Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia

Biography

Biography: Laure Rouch

Abstract

Background: Chronic hypertension particularly midlife high blood pressure has been associated with an increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia. In this context, antihypertensive drugs might have a preventive eff ect but the association remains poorly understood. Objectives & Methods: Th e aim of our systematic review was to examine all published fi ndings that investigated this relationship and discuss the mechanisms underlying the potential benefi ts of antihypertensive medication use. We conducted a literature search using Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Results: 18 longitudinal studies, 11 randomized controlled trials and 9 meta-analyses were identifi ed from the 10.251 articles retrieved in the literature search. In the 7 longitudinal studies assessing the eff ect of antihypertensive medication on cognitive impairment or cognitive decline, antihypertensive drugs appeared to be benefi cial. Of the 11 longitudinal studies that assessed the eff ect of antihypertensive medication on incidence of dementia, only 3 did not fi nd a signifi cant protective eff ect. Antihypertensive medication could decrease the risk of not only vascular dementia but also Alzheimer’s disease. 4 randomized controlled trials showed a potentially preventive eff ect of antihypertensive drugs on the incidence of dementia or cognitive decline. Meta-analyses have sometimes produced confl icting results but this may be due to methodological considerations. Conclusion: Antihypertensive drugs particularly calcium channel blockers and renin-angiotensin system blockers may be benefi cial in preventing cognitive decline and dementia not only by lowering blood pressure but also trough a neuroprotective specifi c eff ect. However, further randomized controlled trials with longer periods of follow-up and cognition as the primary outcome are needed to confi rm these fi ndings.