Blood pressure medication could reduce cognitive decline, says research

Blood pressure drugs could be used as a treatment for dementia, according to new research. A study conducted by University of College Cork in Ireland and McMaster University in Canada has suggested that centrally acting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (CACE-Is) can help stall the rate at which dementia patients decline.

The rate of cognitive decline was found to be reduced in dementia patients following treatment with CACE-Is. The reduction was also not affected by the individuals' blood pressure levels when they were diagnosed with hypertension, indicating that it could have universal effects. Improvements in cognitive change were noted during the first six months of CACE-I treatment.

The study followed 361 patients suffering from Alzheimer's or another type of dementia over the course of 11 years. During the period 1999 to 2010, 85 per cent of patients were prescribed CACE-Is as a treatment for high blood pressure. Researchers identified small differences in cognitive decline between those taking CACE-Is and the group that were not.

Patients' cognitive abilities were tested using the Standardised Mini-Mental status Examination. Those that were not taking CACE-Is registered a decline of 2.1 points over a six month period, in comparison to those that were taking the drug; many of whom recorded only a 1.8 point decline over the same period.

Although this study suggests that some blood pressure medications could help reduce the rate that cognitive decline occurs within dementia patients, it is only a small study and does not cover all forms of ACE inhibitors. However, previous research into the issue has suggested that cardiovascular factors and blood pressure levels may well be linked to the onset of dementia. The basic message of the study could be deemed as; improving heart health allows more blood to reach the brain and improve its function. More research is needed into the topic in order to prove the theory conclusively.

Doctor Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: “This is a short study with a small number of participants which suggests marginal benefits on cognition for people with dementia being treated with this class of blood pressure drug. While high blood pressure is a risk factor for cognitive decline, it is unclear from this study whether the association could be due to the control of blood pressure, a different effect of the drugs or another factor."