Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41670993›Full record

ArticleJAMA network open2026

Angiotensin II-Stimulating Antihypertensive Medications and Dementia-Related Neuropathology.

Shelly L Gray, Onchee Yu, Nicole M Gatto, Zachary A Marcum, Caitlin S Latimer, Nadia Postupna, Yu-Ru Su, Douglas Barthold, Jan Willem van Dalen, Edo Richard and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JAMA network open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Recent developments and challenges in hypertensive dementia over the past year.Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension · 2026
    Article
  2. Recent topics in hypertensive dementia.Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Shelly L GrayDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle.
Onchee YuKaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
Nicole M GattoKaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
Zachary A MarcumDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle.
Caitlin S LatimerDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle.
Nadia PostupnaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle.
Yu-Ru SuKaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
Douglas BartholdDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle.
Jan Willem van DalenDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Edo RichardDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
C Dirk KeeneDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle.
Pamela A ShawKaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
Linda K McEvoyKaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
Eric B LarsonSchool of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.
Paul K CraneSchool of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

Funding

Translational pharmacoepidemiology: neuroprotection and neurotoxicity of antihypertensives and strong anticholinergicsU19AG066567 · NIA · KAISER FOUNDATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI Christine L MacDonald · 2021 to 2026
$80.4M
University of Washington Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterP30AG066509 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI Amanda D. Boyd · 2020 to 2026
$29.0M
NIA NIH HHS P30 AG066509NIA NIH HHS U19 AG066567
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Importance: Antihypertensive medications that stimulate angiotensin II type 2 or 4 receptors (angiotensin II-stimulating medications) may be associated with lower risk of dementia. Objective: To examine associations between cumulative exposure to angiotensin II-stimulating vs angiotensin II-inhibiting antihypertensive medications and neuropathology, accounting for blood pressure. Design, Setting, and Participants: This community-based autopsy cohort study from the Adult Changes in Thought cohort was conducted at Kaiser Permanente Washington between February 24, 1994, and November 25, 2022, among 756 participants who had blood pressure measurements and at least 1 person-year (PY) of angiotensin II-stimulating or -inhibiting antihypertensive medication exposure prior to death. Statistical analysis was performed between September 2024 and August 2025. Exposure: Angiotensin II-stimulating antihypertensive medications (angiotensin II receptor blockers, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, thiazides) and angiotensin II-inhibiting antihypertensive medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-blockers, nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers) were ascertained from paper-based medical records (before 1977) and electronic prescription fill data (after 1977). The primary exposure was cumulative angiotensin II PYs, and the secondary exposure was long-term use (≥15 years). Main Outcomes and Measures: Neuropathology outcomes were classified as Alzheimer disease related, vascular brain injury, or other. Exploratory outcomes included quantitative measures of Aβ42 and phosphorylated tau. Data were analyzed using multivariable modified Poisson, proportional odds, and linear regression models and accounted for potential selection bias. Results: The sample included 756 participants (mean [SD] age at death, 89.2 [6.4] years; 440 women [58.2%]; mean [SD] follow-up, 22.2 [13.5] years). Compared with exposure to 5 additional PYs of angiotensin II-inhibiting antihypertensive medications, exposure to 5 additional PYs of angiotensin II-stimulating antihypertensive medications was associated with a 6% lower risk for arteriolosclerosis (relative risk [RR], 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99), with long-term use associated with a 24% lower risk (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63-0.91). For exploratory outcomes, PYs of angiotensin II-stimulating antihypertensive medications were associated with less quantitative phosphorylated tau burden in several brain regions (temporal lobe [adjusted ratio of geometric means, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.62-1.00], hippocampus [adjusted ratio of geometric means, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.97], cornu ammonis subfield 1 [adjusted ratio of geometric means, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99], and transentorhinal cortex [adjusted ratio of geometric means, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70-0.98]) but not with Aβ42 quantitative measures. Conclusions and Relevance: In this community-based autopsy cohort study, angiotensin II-stimulating antihypertensive medications were associated with lower risk of neuropathological burden, supporting findings from epidemiologic dementia studies. Additional mechanistic research examining the effects of individual antihypertensive classes on Alzheimer disease-related biomarkers is warranted.

Indexed as

Angiotensin IIAntihypertensive AgentsDementiaHypertensionAgedAged, 80 and overAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAngiotensin Receptor AntagonistsBrainCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAngiotensin IIAngiotensin Receptor AntagonistsAntihypertensive Agents

Identifiers

PMID41670993
PMCPMC12895290

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.