Relationship between antihypertensive drug therapy and cognitive function in elderly hypertensive patients with memory complaints

Abstract

Antihypertensive therapy was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment and AD. In particular, the use of calcium antagonists was associated with a decreased risk of cognitive impairment and AD independently of the blood pressure level, suggesting a specific neuroprotective effect of these antihypertensive agents.

Emerging Concepts for Neuroscience Field from Ca2+/ cAMP Signalling Interaction

“…Additionally, a 1-decade follow-up study (2000 to 2010), involving 82,107 hypertensive patients of more than 60 years of age, demonstrated that prescription of L-type CCBs during antihypertensive therapy reduces risk of dementia in these patients, indicating that these pharmaceuticals could be clinically used to treat Alzheimer´s disease [16]. These findings for the neuroprotective CCBseffects have been demonstrated in 1,241 elderly hypertensive patients with memory impairment [17]. The prescription of CCBs decreased the risk of cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer´s disease, independently of blood pressure levels when compared to patients not receiving CCBs [17].…”

“…These findings for the neuroprotective CCBseffects have been demonstrated in 1,241 elderly hypertensive patients with memory impairment [17]. The prescription of CCBs decreased the risk of cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer´s disease, independently of blood pressure levels when compared to patients not receiving CCBs [17]. These findings highlight the concept that attenuation of cytosolic Ca 2+ overload produced by L-type CCBs due to blockade of Ca 2+ influx could be a successful pharmacological strategy to reduce, or prevent, neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases.…”

Selective Antihypertensive Dihydropyridines Lower Aβ Accumulation by Targeting both the Production and the Clearance of Aβ across the Blood-Brain Barrier

“…The use of particular antihypertensive medications, specifically the DHPs nitrendipine and nilvadipine, have been associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia, including AD (7,8,10,16,33). We therefore investigated the effects of several clinically used antihypertensive DHPs as well as non-DHP CCBs on Aβ production as this peptide is believed to be central to the disease process.…”

Vascular risk factors, cognitve decline, and dementia

“…Similarly, a study of 1617 elderly African-American subjects followed for 5 years, indicated a signifi cant 38% decrease in cognitive decline in treated hypertensive subjects compared with untreated subjects (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.45-0.84) (Murray et al 2002). Moreover, a recent study found that in a sample of 1241 elderly patients, the odds ratio for AD was 0.58 (95% CI = 0.42-0.81) in treated compared with untreated hypertensive patients (Hanon et al 2006). Lastly, the recent Cache County Study performed in 3,308 people (Mean age 75 years), followed up 3 years, indicated a signifi cant reduction of the risk of AD from 36% (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41-0.98) (Khatchaturian et al 2006).…”