Blood Pressure Medication Could Help Ward Off Alzheimer's, Study Shows
A type of blood pressure medication could help tocombat Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.
Researchers from Bristol University in the U.K. found that over-60-year-olds who had ever takenangiotensin II receptor blockershave a 50 percent lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, compared with people who've taken other kinds of blood pressure medicines.
However, the researchers cautioned that the effect is merely an association -- it does not show that the drugs have a causative effect at preventing Alzheimer's.
"Nobody should berushing to their doctorsaying they want to be put on these just yet," study researcher Dr. Patrick Kehoe toldThe Telegraph.
The study, published in theJournal of Alzheimer's Disease,involved more than 60,000 peopleover age 60 who live in Britain,The Telepgraphreported.
Researchers noted that this type of blood pressure medication targets a specific pathway in the body known as the angiotensin system. This pathway is known to affect blood pressure, and past research has linked high blood pressure with dementia.
HuffPost blogger Dr. Scott Mendleson, M.D., author of the bookBeyond Alzheimer's,explains:
To some degree, this is due to the fact that high blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart disease, which is a major risk factor for dementia. However, high blood pressure itself is known to cause subtle damage to the fine network of blood vessels in the brain. Over time this results in inflammation, hardening of the arteries, poor blood flow, and secondary damage to the brain tissue that depends on these blood vessels for a steady supply of oxygen, fuel and nutrients. These insults to the brain increase the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.
Recently, a study presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in France showed thathigh blood pressure, not exercising, smoking and being obese are risk factors for the disease, the Associated Press reported.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
