Antihypertensive treatment and the prevention of stroke and dementia in elderly patients

Stroke, cognitive impairment and dementia are well-established complications of long-standing hypertension. There is a considerable time lag, usually several decades, between the onset of hypertension and the occurrence of these complications. Although antihypertensive treatment has been shown to decrease the risk of a first stroke, little evidence is available on the effects of antihypertensive treatment on the incidence of recurrent cerebrovascular events, cognitive impairment and dementia. The results of recent studies addressing this issue are discussed, along with directions for future research.