Certain anti-hypertensives of the class of antagonists of angiotensin II receptors would be effective in protecting patients suffering fromAlzheimer’s and reduce the risk of dementia, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy. Candesartan (Atacand®, Kenzen®) used in certain treatments forhigh blood pressure(HTA) and heart failure has shown benefits on neurons. Conclusions obtained in the laboratory.
Researchers at Georgetown University (United States) observed in vitro that candesartan reduced the neurotoxic effects of exposure to glutamate, a damaging factor observed in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This drug prevents neuronal inflammation and many other disease processes, including changes in the production of amyloid, a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
“These results confirm the value of initiating clinical trials with candesartan in patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease,” concluded the study authors.
This study confirms the results of another study carried out in 2013 by researchers at Johns Hopkins University (United States) and published in the medical journal Neurology. She revealed that the drugs for the arterial pressure (either diuretics or antihypertensives called angiotensin enzyme inhibitors) cut the risk of dementia in half.
Alzheimer’s disease in numbers
In France, according to the latest figures from the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm), 860,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and the number of patients is expected to reach two million in 2020. Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases are the leading cause of age-related loss of intellectual functions.
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