The Specific Blood Pressure Medicine You Use May Change Your Risk of Dementia

Poorly controlled high blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of dementia (and strokes), so I’m always curious when a familiar medication class might offer extra brain protection—not just lower blood pressure numbers. ARBs are medications ending in “-sartan,” such as losartan (Diovan).

A February 2026 study by Gray in JAMA Network Open found that people who took angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) for many years had fewer brain changes linked to dementia compared with those using other blood pressure medications.

Long-term use (15+ years) of ARBs was associated with a 24% lower risk of damage to the brain’s small blood vessels and may also be linked to lower levels of an Alzheimer’s-related protein.

Learn More: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2844919