Angiotensin receptor blockers were shown to reduce the incidence and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in a study population of mostly men.
Angiotensin receptor blockers are associated with a significant decrease in the occurrence and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, according to a study published in the January 12 online British Medical Journal.
Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine assembled a study cohort of 819,491 persons (predominantly men) age 65 or older who had cardiovascular disease. The cohort was then categorized into three groups: patients taking angiotensin receptor blockers, patients taking the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor lisinopril, and those taking other cardiovascular drugs. In an additional arm of the study, the researchers also examined a cohort consisting of subjects taking any ACE inhibitor, but not angiotensin receptor blockers. The investigators found that patients taking angiotensin receptor blockers had up to a 50% lower chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, compared with patients in the other two groups. Patients taking angiotensin receptor blockers and ACE inhibitors had a 55% lower risk of dementia.
The researchers also examined patients who were already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and found those patients had up to a 67% lower chance of being admitted to nursing homes or dying if they were taking both an angiotensin receptor blocker and an ACE inhibitor. Patients who had strokes before or during their illness appeared to benefit particularly well.
The results suggest that angiotensin receptor blockers might protect against developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. “For those who already have dementia, use of angiotensin receptor blockers might delay deterioration of brain function and help keep patients out of nursing homes,” said senior author Benjamin Wolozin, MD, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Neurology at Boston University.
Although the researchers are unsure why angiotensin receptor blockers may be so beneficial, they believe one possibility is that the drugs help prevent nerve cell injury from blood vessel damage or promote nerve cell recovery after blood vessel damage. Also, they may help protect the blood vessels in the brain against damage related to cardiovascular disease. Damage to blood vessels is thought to reduce brain capacity and promote dementia, so reducing this damage might prevent the occurrence or progression of dementia.
—Glenn S. Williams