Expert consensus. Effect of antihypertensive therapy on cognitive functions

Abstract

Arterial hypertension (AH) is the major modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI), including dementia, CI in cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimers disease. By 2050, the number of people with dementia will approximately 3 times increase due to the aging population and limited opportunities for drug prevention and treatment of severe CI. In connection with the above, it seems necessary to create an expert consensus, which would summarize the evidence-based medicine data available to date on the effect of antihypertensive therapy (AHT) on cognitive function (CF). In the expert consensus, the data of prospective randomized clinical trials, observational and population studies, meta-analyzes on the effect of AHT on the risk of dementia and CI progression, including certain CF, were summarized and analyzed. The consensus considers the effect of antihypertensive drugs (AHD) on various cognitive domains. Literature data give evidence that AHT reduces the risk for dementia, including vascular dementia, reduces the risk of for dementia in Alzheimers disease, as well as reduces the risk and can prevent the progression of non-dementia CI. The effect of AHT on various CF has been little studied. Most meta-analyzes did not reveal the benefits of any class of AHD; however, one study demonstrated the advantage of angiotensin receptor blockers, while another study diuretics. The consensus emphasizes that, given the high incidence of AH in the general population, AHT may be one of the most effective ways to prevent CI or delay CI progression. The effect of different classes of AHD on CF requires further study. It is necessary to conduct a larger number of well-designed randomized clinical trials that would assess the state of executive functions in patients with AH.