Captopril and Enalapril Improve Cognition and Depressed Mood in Hypertensive Patients

• Published in: Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 323 - 344
• Main Authors: Braszko, J.J., Karwowska-Polecka, W., Halicka, D., Gard, P.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 2003
• Subjects: Affect - drug effects; Captopril - therapeutic use; Cognition Disorders - complications; Cognition Disorders - drug therapy; Depression - complications; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - psychology; Educational Status; Enalapril - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - drug therapy; Learning - drug effects; Learning - physiology; Male; Memory, Short-Term - drug effects; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Mental Recall - drug effects; Mental Recall - physiology; Middle Aged; Postmenopause - drug effects; Postmenopause - physiology; Postmenopause - psychology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Semantics; Single-Blind Method; Verbal Learning - drug effects; Wechsler Scales; Word Association Tests
• ISSN: 0792-6855; 2191-0286
• DOI: 10.1515/JBCPP.2003.14.4.323

In this study, we evaluate the effects of two angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), captopril and enalapril given chronically as antihypertensive treatment, on certain cognitive and emotional processes in humans. Thirty-nine subjects with mild to moderate hypertension and fifteen normotensive controls were divided into four groups consisting of normotensive and hypertensive subjects taking captopril, enalapril, or no medication at all. The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Wechsler Memory Scale were used to evaluate their cognitive functioning. Mood changes in all subjects were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hopkins Symptom Check- list (HSC). Untreated hypertensive patients scored lower than normotensive controls in cognitive tests and significantly worse in cumulative recall (P < 0.05) and paired words association (P < 0.01). When compared with normotensive subjects, untreated hypertensive patients also scored significantly higher on the depression with anxiety subscale in HSC (P < 0.05). No significant influence of hypertension was found in any other examined aspect of cognition and mood. In most cases captopril improved and enalapril reversed the adverse memory effects of hypertension. High arterial blood pressure is significantly associated with an impairment of cognition and the occurrence of depression with anxiety in humans. Enalapril and, to a lesser extent, captopril reversed these deficits.