Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Cognitive and Functional Decline in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: An Observational Study

We previously reported that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) decrease the rate of cognitive decline in elderly patients with hypertension, but their impact on patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not known. A total of 62 elderly patients with AD were enrolled, and 52 comple...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias 2008-02, Vol.23 (1), p.77-83
Main Authors:	Hajjar, Ihab M., Keown, Michelle, Lewis, Paige, Almor, Amit
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Aged Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - therapeutic use Cognition - drug effects Cognition Disorders - diagnosis Cognition Disorders - epidemiology Female Humans Hypertension - drug therapy Male Middle Aged Neuropsychological Tests Observer Variation Prevalence Prospective Studies Severity of Illness Index
Online Access:	Request full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	We previously reported that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) decrease the rate of cognitive decline in elderly patients with hypertension, but their impact on patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not known. A total of 62 elderly patients with AD were enrolled, and 52 completed the study for 6 months. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Clock Draw Test (CDT), working memory (Digit Ordering), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, and the Screen for Caregiver Burden (SCB) were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. AD patients receiving ACEI (N = 15) demonstrated a slower rate of decline in digit forward (P = .003) and IADL scale (P = .003) and an improved measure of caregiver burden (P = .04) but not MMSE (P =.15) or CDT (P =.9) compared with those not receiving ACEI after adjusting for other risk factors. This study suggests that use of ACEI in AD patients is associated with slower rate of AD progression. A randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm our finding.
ISSN:	1533-3175 1938-2731