Blood Pressure Med Might Help Fight Alzheimer's

The results of a clinical trial published in Hypertension found the blood pressure drug nilvadipine can improve blood flow to a key region of the brain in people with Alzheimer's, reports WebMD . Forty-four participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's were randomly assigned to take either nilvadipine or inactive placebos for six months. The cohort on nilvadipine exhibited a 20 percent gain in blood flow to the hippocampus. Researchers acknowledged the study was too small and short-term to know whether this effect could impact Alzheimer's symptoms. The study is part of a larger trial exploring whether nilvadipine could improve memory and thinking skills in those with Alzheimer's, but evidence that the medication helped has not materialized. However, subjects with early-stage Alzheimer's did show signs of a benefit.