A recent study indicates that long-term use of cardiovascular drugs may reduce the risk of dementia in older adults by up to 25%. Conducted by the Karolinska Institute and Lund University in Sweden, this research involved 968,715 participants over several years.
The study focused on medications for conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart failure. The data showed that those who took these drugs for at least five years experienced a 4–25% lower risk of developing dementia. Those who used multiple medications tended to see even greater risk reduction.
However, antiplatelet drugs, which prevent blood clots, were linked to a 13–25% increase in dementia risk. Researchers believe this may be due to an increased likelihood of brain microbleeds associated with these medications.
Additionally, short-term use of cardiovascular drugs was connected to a 13–30% rise in dementia risk. This could be because these medications are often started later in life, missing the opportunity for protective effects.
The study suggests that heart health could influence cognitive decline, but it does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The researchers plan to investigate further, considering other factors like diet and exercise that might affect the findings.
This research underscores the importance of preventive measures, as effective remedies for dementia are currently lacking. The findings are published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
