BP lowering Medication May Fuel Memory Loss In Older Adults – Study
Older adults put on medication to treat high blood-pressure are at higher risk of memory loss than compared to adults who are prescribed BP lowering medications known to cross the blood-brain barrier.
The findings of the study published in the American Heart Association Journal ‘Hypertension’ marked that high blood pressure is a key risk factor for cognitive decline in adults. ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers, and diuretics are different categories of blood pressure-lowering medicines. Each class of drugs works differently to control rising blood pressure levels. The ones that cross the blood-brain barrier have the most significant impact on cognitive function. Such medicines were found to reduce cognitive impairment by 19 percent.
For the study researchers looked at 14 previously conducted studies of 12,900 adults. The participants were aged above 50 years. The researchers found that adults taking blood-pressure-lowering medications that cross the blood-brain barrier had better memory recall for up to 3 years as compared to those not taking drugs of this class.
On the other hand, adults who did not take blood pressure medicines drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier had a better attention span for up to 3 years of follow-up.
