History of High Blood Pressure May Be Linked to Alzheimer's; New Research Suggests Risk Factors...

News Editors/Health & Medical Writers

8th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related

Disorders

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 22, 2002

People may be able to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by taking early steps to treat high blood pressure, according to several studies presented this week at the 8th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders.

"A growing body of

evidence suggests that a history of hypertension may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease," said Alzheimer's Association Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs William Thies, Ph.D. "This is an evolving story but vascular disease and dementia appear to be related."

A longitudinal study by Miia Kivipelto of the University of Kuopio in Finland found high blood pressure to be an independent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Kivipelto examined 1,449 individuals ages 65-79 after an average follow-up of 21 years. The risk of Alzheimer's disease related to the treatable risk factors of elevated cholesterol and blood pressure appeared to be greater than the risk related to the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) 4 allele, one of the most important genetic risk factors for the disease.

Another study conducted by Oliver Hanon and colleagues at Broca Hospital in Paris also suggests hypertension is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. This cross-sectional study of 1,560 elderly individuals with symptoms of memory impairment found a correlation between blood pressure and cognitive decline. Hypertensive patients were significantly more frequent in the group with Alzheimer's disease (67 percent) and vascular or mixed dementia (78 percent) as compared to the group without dementia (56 percent).

On the other hand, a study published recently in the journal Neurology by researchers at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City found no correlation between hypertension and Alzheimer's among patients over the age of 65. According to Richard Mayeux, M.D., the lead researcher of this longitudinal study that followed 1,259 Medicare patients from 1991 to 1998 who were healthy at the beginning of the study, hypertension late in life is not a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

Another study to test whether lowering blood pressure is associated with reduced risk of dementia was conducted by Ingmar Skoog, of Goteborg University, in Sweden. The randomized, double-blind study evaluated the effect of the antihypertensive medication candesartan versus a placebo in 4,964 patients aged 70-89 with mild hypertension recruited in 15 countries. The medication produced a non-significant risk reduction of 23 percent for cognitive decline.

Additional research, including longer and larger prevention trials, is necessary to better understand the relationship between high blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease, according to Thies.

"Since high blood pressure can be controlled, we may have identified something people can do to lower their chance of developing Alzheimer's," said Thies. "While it seems likely that what is good for your heart is also good for your head, it looks like people need to start early to realize the full benefits."

Four million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease and that number may go as high as 14 million by 2050 as the baby boom generation ages. Until recently, age and family history were the only well-established risk factors for Alzheimer's. But, for the first time, researchers may be on the verge of a better understanding of how people may be able to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.

The Alzheimer's Association is hosting the 8th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, July 20-25, 2002, in Stockholm, Sweden. The conference is the largest gathering of Alzheimer researchers in history. As many as 4,000 researchers from around the world will present and discuss the findings of nearly 2,000 studies on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The Alzheimer's Association is the premier source of information and support for the millions of Americans with Alzheimer's. The largest private funder of Alzheimer research in the United States, the Association has committed $138 million toward research into the disease.

Abstract Nos.:

1019, 1111, 1020, 2041

Sessions:

Monday, July 22; 3-5 p.m. (1019 and 1020)

Tuesday, July 23; 12:30-2:45 p.m. (1111)

Wednesday, July 24; 3-5 p.m. (2041)

Researchers:

Miia Kivipelto, Oliver Hanon, Richard Mayeux, Ingmar Skoog

Editor's Note: News releases of selected research presented at the 8th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders are available on the Alzheimer's Association's Web site, at www.alz.org/internationalconference/newsroom.htm. Scientific abstracts are accessible on the Web at http://www.alz.org/internationalconference/programs.htm, then click on Program Navigator.