Are Your Blood Pressure Meds Protecting You From Alzheimer's

Thank your lucky pills if you have high blood pressure. Certain medications for hypertension may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's. Older Americans between ages 75 and 96, with normal cognition, were found to have half the risk of Alzheimer's when taking certain blood pressure medications including diuretics, angiotensin-1 receptor blockers (ARBs), or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), according to Johns Hopkins University. Researchers analyzed data from a previously conducted study of the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on reducing the risk for dementia. While the herb didn't lower the risk for dementia, certain blood pressure medications did. Not only did the risk seem to be lowered for blood pressure patients with normal cognition, the risk was also halved for people with mild cognitive impairments, taking diuretics. Alzheimer's affects over 5 million Americans and 1 in 3 seniors dies from some form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Assocation.