A class of blood pressure meds appear to reduce seniors’ risk of epilepsy People taking angiotensin receptor blockers had as much as 30% less risk of developing epilepsy This held true even when people who’d had a stroke -- the top cause of epilepsy in adults -- were removed from the analysis THURSDAY, June 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A class of blood pressure medications appears to also help lower seniors’ risk of developing epilepsy , a new study finds. The drugs, called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), might prevent epilepsy in people at highest risk of the disease, researchers reported June 17 in the journal JAMA Neurology . “This is incredibly exciting because we don’t currently have any medicines that prevent epilepsy,” said senior researcher Dr.
Kimford Meador , a professor of neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine. “I hope these initial findings lead to randomized clinical trials.” Epilepsy is most often diagnosed during childhood, but more than 1% of people older than 65 are known to develop the recurring seizures associated with the brain disorder.
Stroke is the most common risk factor for developing epilepsy as a senior. About 10% of stroke survivors develop seizures within five years, researchers noted. Hardened arteries and chronic high blood pressure also boost epilepsy risk, whether or not a person has had a stroke, the researchers added.
“This can be a very debilitating disorder, and it’s much more common in older adults .