Antihypertensive drugs and cognitive function

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Heckbert SR, Longstreth WT, Psaty BM, et al.: The association of antihypertensive agents with MRI white matter findings and with modified Mini-Mental State Examination in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 1997, 45:1423–1433. Maxwell CJ, Hogan DB, Ebly EM: Calcium-channel blockers and cognitive function in elderly people: results from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Can Med Assoc J 1999, 161:501–506. Tzourio C, Dufouil C, Ducimetiére P, et al.: Cognitive decline in individuals with high blood pressure. Neurology 1999, 53:1948–1952. In a longitudinal population-based study of elderly individuals (n = 1373), high blood pressure was associated with cognitive decline at 2-year assessment. Guo Z, Fratiglioni L, Zhu L, et al.: Occurrence and Progression of Dementia in a Community Population Aged 75 years and older. Relationship of antihypertensive medication use. Arch Neurol 1999, 65:991–996. In a longitudinal population-based study of elderly individuals, 304 persons were assessed at baseline and 3 years later. The authors suggested that low blood pressure may be an early correlate of a dementing process. Starr JM, Whalley LJ, Deary IJ: The effects of antihypertensive treatment on cognitive function: results from the HOPE study. J Am Geriatr Soc 1996, 44:411–415. Cervilla JA, Prince M, Joels S, et al.: Long-term predictors of cognitive outcome in a cohort of older people with hypertension. Br J Psychiatry 2000, 177:66–71. In a longitudinal trial, 1083 persons were followed for 9 to 12 years. The authors showed that reduction of SBP among hypertensives could protect against cognitive deterioration in later life. Prince MJ, Bird AS, Blizard RA, et al.: Is the cognitive function of older patients affected by antihypertensive treatment? Results from 54 months of the Medical Research Council’s treatment trial of hypertension in older adults. BMJ 1996, 312:801–805. 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