Antihypertensives in Dementia: Good or Bad for the Brain?

Overview

Journal J Cereb Blood Flow Metab

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties Cardiology & Vascular Diseases
Endocrinology
Neurology

Date 2022 Oct 26

PMID 36284494

Authors

Lucy Beishon

Victoria J Haunton

Ronney B Panerai

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Hypertension is associated with both ageing and dementia. Despite this, optimal blood pressure targets in dementia remain unclear. Both high and low blood pressure are associated with poorer cognition. Changes in vascular physiology in dementia may increase the vulnerability of the brain to hypoperfusion associated with antihypertensives. We discuss the potential risks of antihypertensives in the context of altered cerebral haemodynamics, and evidence from antihypertensive trials in dementia. We suggest that individualised blood pressure targets should be the focus for antihypertensive therapy in dementia, rather than strict control to uniform targets extrapolated from trials in cognitively healthy individuals.

Citing Articles

The effect of relative hypotension on 30-day mortality in older people receiving emergency care.

van Oppen J, Owen R, Jones W, Beishon L, Coats T Intern Emerg Med. 2023; 19(3):787-795.

PMID: 37940793 PMC: 11039506. DOI: 10.1007/s11739-023-03468-5.

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