Effects of Nilvadipine on Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients With Alzheimer Disease

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Tex. 1979), 2019-08, Vol.74 (2), p.413-420
• Main Authors: de Jong, Daan L K, de Heus, Rianne A A, Rijpma, Anne, Donders, Rogier, Olde Rikkert, Marcel G M, Günther, Matthias, Lawlor, Brian A, van Osch, Matthias J P, Claassen, Jurgen A H R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.12892

Cerebrovascular changes, including reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF), occur early in the development of Alzheimer disease and may accelerate disease progression. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated how 6 months of treatment with the calcium antagonist nilvadipine would affect CBF in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease. CBF was measured with magnetic resonance arterial spin labeling in whole-brain gray matter and in a priori defined regions of interest including the hippocampus. Fifty-eight patients were randomly assigned (29 in each group), of whom 22 in both groups had no magnetic resonance exclusion criteria and were medication compliant over 6 months. Mean age was 72.8±6.2 years, mean mini-mental state examination was 20.4±3.4. Nilvadipine treatment lowered systolic blood pressure (Δ=-11.5 [95% CI, -19.7 to -3.2] mm Hg; P