Blood Pressure Lowering for the Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Patients with Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

Cerebrovascular disease and high blood pressure both appear to increase the risk of vascular dementia. PROGRESS aims to investigate whether blood pressure lowering with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor-based regimen will reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in patients with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack. A total of at least 6000 patients will be randomised to receive perindopril (± indapamide) or matching placebo(s), with treatment and follow-up scheduled to continue for at least 4 years. Substudies will investigate the effects of treatment on cognitive decline in subgroups defined by apo-E genotype and on white matter lesions assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Final results from the study should be available in 2001.