New medications and new guidelines are constantly being released. Pharmacists need a mechanism to keep up with these new medications and guidelines.

Hypertension has been studied extensively showing a correlation in the decline of cognitive function and is known to be a modifiable risk factor. However, it is still unknown if the benefit of controlling hypertension in regard to cognitive impairment is due to the reduction of blood pressure or through alternative mechanisms of the renin-angiotensin system, specifically angiotensin II. Antihypertensive medications work on the renin-angiotensin system in various ways, and it is hypothesized that certain medications have more protective properties than others. The clinical significance of the selection between antihypertensive medications and their effect on cognitive impairment and dementia remains in question. This presentation will discuss recent evidence exploring if angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) compared to angiotensin-converting inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors) provide a better protection in people who do or not have pre-existing cognitive impairment.