Assessing the Impact of Calcium Channel Blockers on COGnitive Function in the Very Elderly (AI-COG)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Older adults are at increased risk of high blood pressure and cognitive decline. High blood pressure itself also increases risk of cognitive decline. A particular type of blood pressure lowering drug (a calcium channel blocker(CCB)) may lower risk of dementia in younger adults but there is no clear evidence of it's impact in those >=80. It is important that we know whether CCB use impacts on cognitive function in this age group. This study will examine the impact of antihypertensives on change in cognitive function with a particular focus on CCBs.

Detailed Description
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This study is an observational cohort study examining cognitive change in those participants taking antihypertensives and aged 80 and over and examining cognitive change in participants taking different types of antihypertensive medication.

Official Title
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Assessing the Impact of Calcium Channel Blockers on COGnitive Function in the Very Elderly (AI-COG)

Conditions
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Cognitive Ability, General, High Blood Pressure

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Aged 80 and over Receiving pharmacological treatment for hypertension Mini Mental State Exam score >24 No other condition likely to limit life to less than one year or to prevent the taking of informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Aged under 80 years Not receiving pharmacological treatment for hypertension Mini Mental State Exam score <25 Diagnosed with a condition likely to limit life to less than one year or to prevent the taking of informed consent. Presence of a sensory impairment or an existing neuropsychological deficit of sufficient severity to prevent cognitive testing. Presence of a condition that will prevent cognitive testing, registered blind, profoundly deaf, suffering from an aphasia.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Cohort of older adults taking antihypertensives<br>Adults aged 80 and over treated with antihypertensive drugs | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Cognitive Function as Measured Using the Extended Mini Mental State Exam | The change in cognitive function measured using the extended mini-mental state exam (this is an extended screening test which assesses several areas of cognitive function, the scale is from 0-100, higher scores are better, those without cognitive impairment would be expected to score close to maximum) | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Antihypertensives, Cognitive decline, High blood pressure, Hypertension, Ageing, Dementia