title: Hypertension and vascular dementia in the elderly: the potential role of anti-hypertensive agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular dementia (VaD) - a severe form of vascular cognitive impairment - and cognitive decline are associated with hypertension and therefore it seems logical to consider that reducing BP with anti-hypertensive therapy may protect against the development/onset of cognitive function impairment or dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This narrative, non-systematic review discusses the available evidence on the potential correlation between the use of anti-hypertensive agents and the risk of VaD and cognitive decline.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE was searched for inclusion of relevant studies. No limitations in time were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A consensus on the potential effects of anti-hypertensive treatment in the reduction of VaD and associated cognitive decline has not been reached. A protective effect of anti-hypertensive agents has been observed in a number of studies although it is still unclear whether different classes of anti-hypertensive agents have a different effect on the development of VaD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protective effect of anti-hypertensive agents appears to depend on the specific drug used - positive effects have been observed with calcium channel blockers (CCBs), such as lercanidipine and nitrendipine, the combination perindopril-indapamide and telmisartan.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine & Dermatology Hospital Clinic, Univertity of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. acoca@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coca
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents