Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the beta-adrenergic blocker atenolol and the Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist losartan on cognitive function in very elderly hypertensive patients. A total of 120 mild to moderate essential hypertensive (DBP >90 and P< 0.01 vs baseline) and DBP (-10.3 and -11.2 mmHg, respectively, P< 0.01 vs baseline). Atenolol treatment did not induce significant changes in any test score, whereas losartan significantly increased the score of both the word list memory (+2.2, Pvs baseline) and the word list recall test (+2.1, Pvs baseline). The comparison between losartan and atenolol was significant (P<0.05) for both memory tests. These data suggest that in very elderly hypertensive patients, chronic AT1 receptor blockade by losartan could improve cognitive function, in particular immediate and delayed memory.

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