Angiotensin receptor blocker use is associated with upregulation of the memory-protective angiotensin type 4 receptor (ATR) in the postmortem brains of individuals without cognitive impairment.

The reported primary dementia-protective benefits of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATR) blockers (ARB) are believed, at least in part, to arise from systemic effects on blood pressure. However, there is a specific and independently regulated brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Brain RAS acts mainly through three receptor subtypes; ATR, ATR, and ATR. The ATR promotes inflammation and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation. ATR increases nitric oxide. ATR is essential for dopamine and acetylcholine release. It is unknown whether ARB use is associated with changes in the brain RAS. Here, we compared the impact of treatment with ARB on not cognitively impaired individuals and individuals with Alzheimer's dementia using postmortem frontal-cortex samples of age- and sex-matched participants (70-90 years old, n = 30 in each group). We show that ARB use is associated with higher brain ATR, lower oxidative stress, and amyloid-β burden in NCI participants. In AD, ARB use was associated with lower brain ATR but had no impact on inflammation, oxidative stress, or amyloid-β burden. Our results may suggest a potential role for ATR in the salutary effects for ARB on the brains of not cognitively impaired older adults.