Alzheimer's Disease May Be Prevented by with High Blood Pressure Medicine

Could a drug developed for one disease or condition be used to treat something totally unrelated? Researchers have expanded their studies to see what drugs can be used for this very thing. In a recent press release, researchers said that they have found that a common medicine, primarily used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) shows promise in preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that patients who are being treated for high blood pressure with particular medications could benefit from a positive side effect of the high blood pressure medication, because the drug also has cognitive benefits.

During their research, over 1,500 drugs that are used to treat other illnesses and diseases have been investigated to see if they showed the possibility of treating Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment. Researchers at Mount Sinai identified 7 out of 55 drugs that show the potential to help treat or prevent Alzheimer's. These drugs are currently being used to treat high blood pressure.

As the American population continues to age, more and more researchers are continuing the push to identify different ways that Alzheimer's disease can be prevented and treated.

Alzheimer's disease typically strikes people over the age of 65. It is the primary cause of dementia in the elderly. It is estimated that over 24 million people throughout the world are affected by dementia caused by Alzheimer's. Studies indicate that using anti-hypertension medicine that has anti-beta-amyloid production can affect the parts of the brain that are responsible for Alzheimer's.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include loosing the ability to take care of oneself, extreme forgetfulness, and loss of energy, among other things. At it's worst, Alzheimer's can progress to the point where someone becomes incontinent, unable to walk, and cannot eat without assistance. Eventually they may lose the ability to speak and swallow fluids and foods, leading to death.