Tuesday July 15, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Use of antihypertensive medications is associated in early observational studies with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease.  A new study confirms that antihypertensive drugs may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The study based on data from the Cache County Study of Memory Health and Aging showed that those who used antihypertensive medications were 23% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, compared with those who did not use the drugs.

In the Cache County Study, 347 participants were followed up for a mean of 7.1 years and researchers analyzed the data from the study to determine which type of antihypertension drugs may have a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers found among idfferent classes of antihypertensive medications, thiazide and potassium-sparing diuretics were associated with 30% and 31% reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease, respectively.

The study concluded "Thiazide and potassium-sparing diuretics were associated with decreased risk of AD (Alzheimer's disease)."  (David Liu, PHD)

Yi-Fang Chuanga, John C.S. Breitnerb, Yen-Ling Chiuc, d, Ara Khachaturiane, Kathleen Haydenf, Chris Corcorang, h, JoAnn Tschanzg, i, Maria Nortong, i, j, Ron Mungerg, Kathleen Welsh-Bohmerf, Peter P. Zandia, Use of diuretics is associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease: the Cache County Study, Neurobiology of Aging, Available online 9 May 2014