1. [Cognitive impairment and dementia in hypertension; the effect of antihypertensive medication].
- Author
-
Birkenhäger WH, de Leeuw PW, Staessen JA, Wang JG, Forette F, and Seux ML
- Subjects
- Antihypertensive Agents pharmacology, Calcium Channel Blockers therapeutic use, Cognition Disorders prevention & control, Dementia etiology, Dementia physiopathology, Humans, Hypertension physiopathology, Nitrendipine therapeutic use, Antihypertensive Agents therapeutic use, Dementia prevention & control, Hypertension complications, Hypertension drug therapy
- Abstract
The prevalence and incidence of both degenerative (Alzheimer) and vascular dementias rise exponentially with aging. In both forms of dementia hypertension is a predisposing factor. The interval between the onset of hypertension and the manifestation of dementia amounts to 12-15 years. A complicating factor is the observation that initial dementia may be accompanied by secondary decrease in blood pressure. A preventive effect of current antihypertensive treatment is likely, according to preliminary evidence (particularly with regard to the use of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine), but the hopeful perspective of protection against dementias through antihypertensive treatment remains to be confirmed by further prospective comparative trials.
- Published
- 2000