New drugs may cut risk of dementia by up to 40%

Doctors are to launch an investigation into a group of drugs used to treat high blood pressure, after a study found they may cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

People taking the drugs, known as angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs, had a 35-40% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and similar neurodegenerative disorders, according to medical records of more than 5 million patients.

Researchers at Boston University school of medicine said the drugs also appeared to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, reducing deaths, admissions to nursing homes and certain symptoms of the condition by up to 45%.