No Effect of Intensive BP Lowering on Brain Biomarkers of Dementia
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Intensive lowering of blood pressure (BP) in older patients with hypertension does not appear to reduce the risk for the occurrence of brain biomarkers that have been linked to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may even increase the risk, a new imaging study suggests. Using brain MRI, investigators found a small but statistically significant decrease in hippocampal volume in patients who underwent intensive treatment to lower BP in comparison with patients who underwent standard treatment to lower BP. There were no significant differences in other AD brain biomarkers.
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@tintin The current study was a secondary analysis of findings from the SPRINT MIND trial, a large randomized trial that had found less progression of white matter lesions in those who had received more intensive BP control, compared to those who had received standard treatment, Nasrallah said. White matter lesions are a biomarker for cerebrovascular injury. Other studies have had similar findings, but "other mechanistic markers of cognitive impairment and dementia have yet to be explored," the authors note.