Blood pressure pill may shield brain from dementia, massive study hints
NCT ID NCT05125224
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study analyzed health records from over 163,000 older adults with high blood pressure to see if one type of medication (dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers) was linked to a lower risk of developing dementia compared to another (hydrochlorothiazide). The goal was to find if an existing drug could be repurposed to help prevent Alzheimer's disease. The study did not test a new treatment but looked back at data to find patterns.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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163,720 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2021
- Finished
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Dec 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
This study will employ a new user, active comparator, observational cohort study design comparing dihydropyridine CCBs to hydrochlorothiazide. The patients will be required to have continuous enrollment during the baseline period of 365 days before initiation of dihydropyridine CCBs or hydrochlorothiazide (index date). Follow-up for the outcome (dementia) differs between analyses. Follow-up begins the day after drug initiation (analysis 1, 3, 4); 180 days after drug initiation (analysis 2).
- Ages
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65 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Please see https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VlyY3zcxoRp0tH7yv8rSOEggSO6WQ0VYEjq-6KlSSt8/edit?usp=sharing or Appendix A for full code and algorithm definitions. Medicare timeframe: 2008 to 2018 (end of data availability). CRPD timeframe: 2007 to 2018 Inclusion Criteria: * 1\. Aged \> 65 years on the index date * 2\. For Medicare - Enrollment in Medicare Part A, B, and D with no HMO coverage for 365 days prior to and including cohort entry date * 3\. At least two claims with hypertension diagnosis recorded in 365 days prior to cohort entry date Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Prior history of dementia measured anytime prior to cohort entry date * 2\. Prior use of dihydropyridine CCBs, hydrochlorothiazide, or other antihypertensives anytime prior to cohort entry date
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02120, United States
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