Blood pressure drug could halt progression of Alzheimer’s

July 30, 2017

Losartan could reduce brain shrinkage which occurs with incurable condition
We already know people with high blood pressure have raised risk of Alzheimer’s
But some are protected by the blood pressure drugs they take, past study found
The group of inhibitors losartan belongs to cuts disease risk by up to 50%
New study to test if drug helps sufferers who don’t have high blood pressure
Scientists need another 90 volunteers for the double-blinded randomised trail

Claudia Tanner For Mailonline

Published:
07:38 EDT, 26 July 2017

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Updated:
08:29 EDT, 26 July 2017

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A ground-breaking £2 million trial is underway to test whether a common blood pressure drug could halt or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

British researchers believe losartan – which has been available for more than two decades – could reduce the rate of brain shrinkage that normally occurs with the incurable condition.

It may improve blood flow and stop the chain reactions that cause brain cell damage and memory problems, past previous research suggests.

There are 140 participants already taking part, but scientists need another 90 volunteers.

The study, known as RADAR, is being led by the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Queen’s University Belfast and University College, London.

Almost half a million people in the UK have Alzheimer’s, which is the most common form of dementia.

Researchers are urging volunteers to come forward to take part in the trial (file photo)

Pat Kehoe, professor of translational dementia research at the University of Bristol, said: ‘With an ageing population, and as we are still in search of longer acting and effective treatments.

‘We are delighted with the confidence our funders have placed on us.

‘The scientific case is there but we now really need people with Alzheimer’s disease to come forward and offer to take part as their involvement is essential to helping scientists find out if losartan could be a future treatment.’

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HOW THE RESEARCH WILL BE CARRIED OUT

The RADAR study will instruct participants to take a pill once a day for 12 months.

It is a double-blinded randomised trial, which means some participants will randomly be given losartan or an identical looking pill with no active medicine (a placebo).

Nobody, including the doctors or nurses involved, will be aware who receives which.

A team of experts will then use brain scans to measure whether losartan slashes the rate of brain shrinkage.

Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires on their memory and quality of life.

People interested in taking part can find out more information here.

Past research

The Universities of Bristol carried out the first study to investigate the effects of blood pressure drugs on Alzheimer’s in 2011.

Its scientists analysed data from 40,000 patients aged over 60 who were being treated for hypertension, or high blood pressure.

They discovered taking drugs known as ARBs and ACE inhibitors – which includes losartan – cuts the risk of the disease by up to 50 per cent.

They also found patients on these newer drugs are also less likely to develop vascular dementia – a condition caused by problems in blood supply to the brain – than those on older medication.

People with high blood pressure are more at risk of developing Alzheimer’s and similar diseases, but some are protected by the drugs they take, their study shows.

These medications targets a biochemical pathway called the renin angiotensin system, thought to affect the onset of Alzheimer’s.

No new drugs for over a decade

The Alzheimer’s Society welcomed the trial and said losartan is known to be safe.

Head of research Dr James Pickett said: ‘No new drug for Alzheimer’s has been approved in the past 14 years.

‘Testing drugs like this one, which we already know is safe, is a great approach, as it significantly reduces the time it could take to reach patients if it were effective.

‘We’re already using this approach by funding studies into arthritis and diabetes drugs.’