A new observational study suggests that drugs, often for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease may have a further advantage: to prevent heart attacks and premature death.
Swedish researchers reviewed records on 7.073 Alzheimer's patients, the the cholinesterase inhibitors (ARICEPT, Exelon, REMINYL and other brands). Over an average of about 18 months follow up 831 of the patients had a heart attack or died.
Adjusted for sex, age, previous cardiovascular disease, additional prescribed drugs and other factors, the researchers found, take cholinesterase inhibitors reduce the mortality rate and the heart attack rate of 35 percent. In addition, further reduces the risk with increasing doses of the drugs. The study was published in the European heart journal.
Seriously ill patients are not usually cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed, but only slightly changed also without patients three months late Association.
The authors emphasize that only a trial could prove a causal relationship, but they suggest several possible reasons for the effect including the anti-inflammatory properties of cholinesterase inhibitors.
"It is very interesting that these drugs have potentially positive effects," said the lead author, Dr. Peter Nordstrom, Professor of Geriatrics at the University of Umea. "But I would not tell people to take these medicines for the prevention of heart attack. "This is just a club, and we can not advise you to prevent cardiovascular diseases."
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