BLOOD-PRESSURE-LOWERING FOR THE PREVENTION OF COGNITIVE DECLINE IN PATIENTS WITH CEREBROVASCULAR-DISEASE

Cerebrovascular disease and high blood pressure both appear to increas e the risk of vascular dementia. PROGRESS aims to investigate whether blood pressure lowering with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibito r-based regimen will reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in patien ts 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 sched uled 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.