Relationship Between Calcium Channel Blockers Therapy and Cognitive Function Improvement in Cognitive Decline Patients with Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Amlodipine belongs to a class of calcium channel blockers that relax blood vessels to allow easier flow of blood. Higher blood pressure (BP) is associated with cerebrovascular disease and is an important contributor to cognitive decline and dementia.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 24 weeks of S-amlodipine besylate therapy on cognitive function in patients with hypertension and cerebrovascular disease.

Methods: The data were obtained from a study of post-market surveillance of S-amlodipine besylate.

Results: A total of 545 subjects (mean age 67 ± 9.68 years) with hypertension and ischemic cerebrovascular disease were enrolled. Patients with a baseline Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score above 26 were assigned to the cognitive normal (CN) (n = 294) group, and those with MMSE score less than 26 were in the cognitive decline (CD) (n = 251) group. After 24 weeks of treatment with S-amlodipine besylate 5 mg, MMSE and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) were evaluated again. Changes in MMSE were compared in the target BP reached (TBPR) and non-reached (NTBPR) groups and for CN and CD groups. Treatment with 5 mg of S-amlodipine besylate for 24 weeks improved MMSE and GDS scores (p < 0.001). The CD group showed improvement in MMSE score regardless of whether target BP was obtained (TBPR: p < 0.001, NTBPR: p < 0.01). However, the CN classification was not significant for either TBPR or NTBPR groups.

Conclusions: S-amlodipine besylate improved cognition of the CD group with hypertension and cerebrovascular disease regardless of obtaining target BP.

Keywords: Alzheimer; Amlodipine besylate; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Hypertension.