Antihypertensives that stimulate rather than inhibit type-2 and type-4 angiotensin II receptors are associated with lower rates of cognitive impairment or probable dementia, US researchers say.

According to the secondary analysis of the SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) cohort, certain blood pressure-lowering regimens could play a protective role against cognitive decline.

“The main message for clinicians at this point is to emphasise the importance of achieving blood pressure targets as a dementia-risk-reduction strategy,” said study author Dr Zachary Marcum (PhD) from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Dr Marcum and colleagues assessed data from nearly 8700 older adults (mean age 68) who were prevalent users of antihypertensives at the six-month visit of SPRINT.