Some blood pressure drugs may help protect against dementia, study shows

It has been proven that high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a key risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. One study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine analyzed the difference in development of dementia in elderly patients being treated for hypertension with different high blood pressure medications. The study found that the drugs classified as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, specifically the ones that are centrally- acting significantly reduced the development of dementia in patients. Some specific examples of these drugs are captropril (Capoten®), fosinopril (Monopril®), lisinopril (Prinivil® or Zestri®), perindopril (Aceon®), ramipril (Altace®) and trandolapril (Mavik®).Centrally- acting ACE inhibitors are drugs that allowed to cross the blood brain barrier, an extensive system of highly specialized blood vessels that protect the brain from harmful substances in the blood stream, and get into the brain. This allows the drug to reduce the inflammation in the brain that could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. In the past, ACE inhibitors in general have been found to be beneficial to the heart and kidneys; it turns out that they are equally beneficial to the brain, if allowed into the brain. In the study, it found that patients taking centrally- acting ACE inhibitors saw a 65% decline in loss of cognitive function per year as compared to those taking other high blood pressure medications. This was measured by the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam which evaluates memory, language, abstract reasoning and other mental functions in humans. This finding contrasts the previous physician’s recommendation of taking drugs that are not allowed to get into the brain.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/wfub-sbp072009.php

This article is uniquely important to me because my grandfather was diagnosed with dementia 5 years ago. He, along with many of my family members, has high blood pressure. This study shows the link between different high blood pressure drugs and preventing the development of dementia. It contrasts previous beliefs that drugs that cross the blood brain barrier are harmful, when in fact at times, they can be beneficial. This is a key example of why medical research and re-evaluation of previous research is important in improving the quality of life of individuals.