Blood Pressure Drugs May Protect Against Alzheimer's (HealthDay)

SUNDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- The use of blood pressure drugscalled angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is associated with lowerincidence and slower progression of Alzheimer's disease, researchers atthe Boston University School of Medicine report.

Their analysis of U.S. government data revealed that patients takingARBs were 35 percent to 40 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer'sdisease or other forms of dementia than people who didn't take thedrugs.

The study also found that people with Alzheimer's disease or dementiawho took ARBs were up to 45 percent less likely to develop delirium, to beadmitted to nursing homes, or to die. Patients who suffered strokesbefore or during being diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia seemed toespecially benefit from taking ARBs.

The findings were expected to be presented Sunday at the InternationalConference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago.

The results indicate that ARBs might protect people against Alzheimer'sdisease and dementia, the researchers said.

"For those who already have dementia, use of ARBs might delaydeterioration of brain function and help keep patients out of nursinghomes," Dr. Benjamin Wolozin, a professor of pharmacology, said in auniversity news release.

"The study is particularly interesting, because we compared the effectsof ARBs to other medications used for treating blood pressure orcardiovascular disease. This suggests that ARBs are more effective thanother blood pressure and cardiovascular medications for preventingAlzheimer's disease or dementia," Wolozin said.

It's not clear why ARBs may be beneficial, but it may be because theyhelp prevent nerve cell injury from blood vessel damage or help promotenerve recovery after blood vessel damage, the researchers said.

It's believed that damage to blood vessels reduces brain capacity andpromotes dementia. Reducing this kind of damage may prevent or slow theprogression of dementia.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about .