Data Analysis for Drug Repurposing for Effective Alzheimer's Medicines (DREAM)- Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers Versus Hydrochlorothiazide

An observational study of Hypertension, run by Brigham and Women's Hospital at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Trial summary

This study aims to evaluate the comparative risk of dementia/Alzheimer's disease onset between patients treated with medications that target specific metabolic pathways and patients treated with alternative medications for the same indication. Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 65 years and older
Conditions the study is for: Hypertension
What is being tested?: Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and Hydrochlorothiazide
How many people: 163,720 participants
Where: 1 siteUnited States
Study dates: 1 Oct 2021to 31 Dec 2023
Phase: Observational
Are there results?: Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 65 years and older
All sexes
Older adult

Study population: This study will employ a new user, active comparator, observational cohort study design comparing dihydropyridine CCBs to hydrochlorothiazide. The patients will be required to have continuous enrollment during the baseline period of 365 days before initiation of dihydropyridine CCBs or hydrochlorothiazide (index date). Follow-up for the outcome (dementia) differs between analyses. Follow-up begins the day after drug initiation (analysis 1, 3, 4); 180 days after drug initiation (analysis 2).

Who may be able to join

1. Aged > 65 years on the index date
2. For Medicare - Enrollment in Medicare Part A, B, and D with no HMO coverage for 365 days prior to and including cohort entry date
3. At least two claims with hypertension diagnosis recorded in 365 days prior to cohort entry date

Who cannot join

1. Prior history of dementia measured anytime prior to cohort entry date
2. Prior use of dihydropyridine CCBs, hydrochlorothiazide, or other antihypertensives anytime prior to cohort entry date

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02120

Other trials in United States

About this study

Read the detailed description

This is a non-randomized, non-interventional study that is part of the DREAM Study of Brigham and Women's Hospital. DREAM is led by Dr. Madhav Thambisetty, MD, PhD, Chief of the Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging (NIA) intramural research program. This study aims to evaluate the comparative risk of dementia/Alzheimer's disease onset between patients treated with medications that target specific metabolic pathways and patients treated with alternative medications for the same indication using healthcare claims data.

Conditions: Hypertension
Being tested: Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, Hydrochlorothiazide
Medical subject headings: Hypertension

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockerDrug
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker claim is used as the exposure group.
HydrochlorothiazideDrug
Hydrochlorothiazide claim is used as the reference group.

Study groups in NCT05125224
Study group	Role	What they receive
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker		Exposure group Receives: Drug: Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
Hydrochlorothiazide		Reference group Receives: Drug: Hydrochlorothiazide

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Time to Dementia Onset
Time to dementia onset, i.e., Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, senile, presenile, or unspecified dementia, or dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere. Please refer to uploaded protocol for full definition due to size limitations.
Measured: Median follow up times: 1) 189 days (exp), 171 days (ref) 2) 835 days (exp). 851 days (ref) 3) 388 days (exp), 348 days (ref) 4) 191 days (exp), 172 days (ref)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

1 Oct 202131 Dec 2023

First posted18 Nov 2021
Study start1 Oct 2021
Primary completion7 Jul 2023
Study completion31 Dec 2023

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
Other trials for HypertensionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
More trials run by Brigham and Women's HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Observational
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Retrospective
Enrolment: 163,720 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05125224
Sponsor's protocol ID: 2019A010961-6
Status last verified: Oct 2025
First submitted: 8 Nov 2021
Last updated: 6 Nov 2025
Results posted: Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
FDA-regulated drug: Yes
FDA-regulated device: No

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

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Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Data Analysis for Drug Repurposing for Effective Alzheimer's Medicines (DREAM)- Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers Versus Hydrochlorothiazide
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05125224
Acronym / sponsor ID: 2019A010961-6
Conditions: Hypertension
Study type: Observational
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 163,720 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Brigham and Women's HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
Collaborators: National Institute on Aging (NIA), Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins University
Study start: 1 Oct 2021 (actual)
Primary completion: 7 Jul 2023 (actual)
Study completion: 31 Dec 2023 (actual)
First posted: 18 Nov 2021 (actual)
Results: Posted 6 Nov 2025

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Detailed description

Study design

Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Retrospective
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker	–	Drug: Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockerExposure group
Hydrochlorothiazide	–	Drug: HydrochlorothiazideReference group

Who may qualify

Ages: 65 years and older
Sex: All
Age groups: Older adult
Study population: This study will employ a new user, active comparator, observational cohort study design comparing dihydropyridine CCBs to hydrochlorothiazide. The patients will be required to have continuous enrollment during the baseline period of 365 days before initiation of dihydropyridine CCBs or hydrochlorothiazide (index date). Follow-up for the outcome (dementia) differs between analyses. Follow-up begins the day after drug initiation (analysis 1, 3, 4); 180 days after drug initiation (analysis 2).

Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)

1. Aged > 65 years on the index date
2. For Medicare - Enrollment in Medicare Part A, B, and D with no HMO coverage for 365 days prior to and including cohort entry date
3. At least two claims with hypertension diagnosis recorded in 365 days prior to cohort entry date

Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)

1. Prior history of dementia measured anytime prior to cohort entry date
2. Prior use of dihydropyridine CCBs, hydrochlorothiazide, or other antihypertensives anytime prior to cohort entry date

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockerDihydropyridine calcium channel blocker claim is used as the exposure group.	Drug	Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
HydrochlorothiazideHydrochlorothiazide claim is used as the reference group.	Drug	Hydrochlorothiazide

Primary outcome

Time to Dementia Onset
Time frame: Median follow up times: 1) 189 days (exp), 171 days (ref) 2) 835 days (exp). 851 days (ref) 3) 388 days (exp), 348 days (ref) 4) 191 days (exp), 172 days (ref)
Time to dementia onset, i.e., Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, senile, presenile, or unspecified dementia, or dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere. Please refer to uploaded protocol for full definition due to size limitations.

Results and safety

Results posted to the registry on 6 Nov 2025, as reported by the sponsor. Figures are copied from the record, not re-analysed. Full results on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Participant flow

Group	Started	Completed
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker	77,152	64,254
Hydrochlorothiazide	86,568	64,254

Primary outcome: Time to Dementia Onset

Time frame: Median follow up times: 1) 189 days (exp), 171 days (ref) 2) 835 days (exp). 851 days (ref) 3) 388 days (exp), 348 days (ref) 4) 191 days (exp), 172 days (ref). Number (95% Confidence Interval). Unit: Incidence rate per 1000 person year

Measure	Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker n = 64,254	Hydrochlorothiazide n = 64,254
Analysis 1	17.1 (16.2 to 18.0)	13.7 (12.8 to 14.6)
Analysis 2	20.8 (19.8 to 21.9)	20.6 (19.6 to 21.6)
Analysis 3	15.6 (14.6 to 16.7)	13.1 (12.1 to 14.2)
Analysis 4	5.6 (5.1 to 6.2)	4.0 (3.6 to 4.6)

Adverse events

Time frame: 'As-treated' follow-up approach - Median follow-up days of 189 (for Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers) and 171 (for Hydrochlorothiazide). Other adverse events reported at 0% frequency or more

Group	Serious adverse events	Other adverse events	Deaths
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker	0 of 0	0 of 64,254 (0%)	0 of 64,254
Hydrochlorothiazide	0 of 0	0 of 64,254 (0%)	0 of 64,254

Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Nov 2025.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.

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Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Madhav Thambisetty, MD, PhD principal investigator

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Hypertension, run by Brigham and Women's Hospital at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 6 Nov 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Time to Dementia Onset (time frame: Median follow up times: 1) 189 days (exp), 171 days (ref) 2) 835 days (exp). 851 days (ref) 3) 388 days (exp), 348 days (ref) 4) 191 days (exp), 172 days (ref)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05125224.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Nov 2025.