Does β-blocker use reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in elderly hypertensive men?
In elderly hypertensive men, the use of beta-blockers as a sole antihypertensive agent is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the associations between classes of antihypertensive medication use and the risk of cognitive impairment among elderly hypertensive men. METHODS: The Honolulu-Asia Aging Study is a prospective, community-based cohort study of Japanese American men conducted in Honolulu, Hawaii. We examined 2,197 participants (mean age 77 years at cohort entry, 1991-1993, followed through September 2010) with hypertension and without dementia or cognitive impairment at baseline, who provided information on medication use. Cognitive function was assessed at 7 standardized examinations using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI). Cognitive impairment was defined as a CASI score 75 years, and those with pulse pressure ≥70 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: β-blocker use is associated with a lower risk of developing cognitive impairment in elderly Japanese American men.
Gelber et al. (2013) studied this question.