Angiotensin receptor blockers reduce dementia progression in hypertensive patients: AHA

China: A new study published in the journal Hypertension showed that angiotensin receptor blockers were related to a decreased risk of dementia development in adults with hypertension and moderate cognitive impairment when compared to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and other kinds of antihypertensive medications (AHMs).

Previous research revealed that hypertension drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin system may slow the progression from moderate cognitive impairment to dementia. It is unknown, however, if this relationship differs across angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. The angiotensin hypothesis, which proposes that the renin-angiotensin system has a role in brain function, was recently presented. Medications that boost angiotensin-mediated activity at the angiotensin II and IV receptors (e.g., ARBs) may give superior brain protection to those that decrease activity at these receptors (eg, ACE inhibitors)

Zhenhong Deng conducted a retrospective cohort analysis in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative with 403 individuals who had baseline hypertension and mild cognitive impairment. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics were among the AHMs identified throughout the follow-up period. In the time to event analysis, Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for relevant confounders were applied, with dementia progression as the outcome.