Massive study suggests common heart drugs may shield brain from dementia
NCT ID NCT05794997
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at health records from over 800,000 older adults to see if certain blood pressure drugs (propranolol or carvedilol) are linked to a lower risk of dementia compared to other similar drugs (atenolol, bisoprolol, or sotalol). The goal was to find if repurposing existing medicines could help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Because the study is based on past data analysis, it can suggest connections but cannot prove cause and effect.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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817,337 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2022
- 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 Propranolol or Carvedilol to hydrochlorothiazide. The patients will be required to have continuous enrollment during the baseline period of 365 days before initiation of Propranolol or Carvedilol or Atenolol, Bisoprolol or Sotalol (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
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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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/1ltZHHv6AvMkPBbSp\_9c0dtQ0XMmBc00d4jaRId5ovaA/edit?usp=sharing or Appendix A (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a-1uRt73kVywEoV8L0cEmDNgaqYEIudT?usp=sharing) for full code and algorithm definitions. Medicare timeframe: 2008 to 2019 (end of data availability). Inclusion Criteria: * 1\. Aged \>/= 65 years on the index date * 2\. 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 1 inpatient claim or 2 outpatient claims with hypertension diagnosis recorded in 365 days prior to drug initiation Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Prior history of dementia measured anytime prior to cohort entry date * 2\. Prior history of nursing home admission in the 365 days prior to the cohort entry date * 3\. Prior use of Propranolol, Carvedilol and Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Sotalol * 4\. Use of Propranolol, Carvedilol and Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Sotalol concomitantly on index 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, 02115, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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