Diabetes Pill Helps Early Alzheimer's Disease
Diabetes Pill Helps Early Alzheimer's Disease
Study: Brain Disease Also Tied to High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol
July 20, 2004 (Philadelphia) -- Experts say keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check can significantly lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. And once the brain disease develops, a diabetes pill may actually improve thinking.
Specifically, researchers at the 9thInternational Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders reported today that diuretics, water pills that are used to treat high blood pressure, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 75%; high levels of HDL "good" cholesterol cuts the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 50% in women; and the diabetes pill Avandia may improve memory and thinking in people with early Alzheimer's disease.
"This is clearly evidence that all of these conditions are interrelated," says Hugh Hendrie, MDChB, DSc, a professor of psychiatry at the Regenstrief Institute at Indiana University School of Medicine. "Moreover, it now appears that the way we treat these other conditions may influence the brain."
Hendrie chaired a press conference where the study results were presented.
In the blood pressure study Ara S. Khachaturian, PhD of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed data from a three-year memory and aging study of 3,300 participants aged 65 and over.
"Users of any high blood pressuremedication had a 36% reduction in [Alzheimer's] risk," Khachaturian says. "Use of a diuretic was associated with a 40% reduction in Alzheimer's risk."
He also points out that the risk reduction was greatest -- 75% -- among those taking diuretics known as potassium-sparing, such as amiloride, spironolactone, or triamterene. These are different diuretics than the commonly used hydrochlorothiazide.
Hendrie says that finding is somewhat surprising since other researchers -- himself included -- have found a lower Alzheimer's risk with all high blood pressure medications. "But it is encouraging since diuretics are very cheap," Hendrie says.
Diabetes Pill Helps Early Alzheimer's Disease
Study: Brain Disease Also Tied to High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol
July 20, 2004 (Philadelphia) -- Experts say keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check can significantly lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. And once the brain disease develops, a diabetes pill may actually improve thinking.
Specifically, researchers at the 9thInternational Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders reported today that diuretics, water pills that are used to treat high blood pressure, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 75%; high levels of HDL "good" cholesterol cuts the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 50% in women; and the diabetes pill Avandia may improve memory and thinking in people with early Alzheimer's disease.
"This is clearly evidence that all of these conditions are interrelated," says Hugh Hendrie, MDChB, DSc, a professor of psychiatry at the Regenstrief Institute at Indiana University School of Medicine. "Moreover, it now appears that the way we treat these other conditions may influence the brain."
Hendrie chaired a press conference where the study results were presented.
Water Pills Work Best
In the blood pressure study Ara S. Khachaturian, PhD of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed data from a three-year memory and aging study of 3,300 participants aged 65 and over.
"Users of any high blood pressuremedication had a 36% reduction in [Alzheimer's] risk," Khachaturian says. "Use of a diuretic was associated with a 40% reduction in Alzheimer's risk."
He also points out that the risk reduction was greatest -- 75% -- among those taking diuretics known as potassium-sparing, such as amiloride, spironolactone, or triamterene. These are different diuretics than the commonly used hydrochlorothiazide.
Hendrie says that finding is somewhat surprising since other researchers -- himself included -- have found a lower Alzheimer's risk with all high blood pressure medications. "But it is encouraging since diuretics are very cheap," Hendrie says.
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