Proven interventions for high blood pressure lower the odds for dementia and cognitive decline, according to researchers.
If you’ve got high blood pressure, getting it under control will help protect you from dementia, a new study suggests.
People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop the memory-robbing condition. And while following a healthy diet and exercising have been shown to reduce dementia risk, researchers say less is known about the impact of antihypertensive drugs on cognitive health.
The researchers recruited nearly 34,000 patients in China with uncontrolled high blood pressure and split them into two groups.
Those in the intervention group received blood pressure medications and were coached on home monitoring and lifestyle changes like weight loss and salt reduction.
The others were trained in blood pressure management and had their blood pressure measured in a healthcare setting.
Over 48 months, the intervention group achieved better blood pressure control with significant drops in their systolic and diastolic numbers.
These reductions were associated with a 15% lower risk of all-cause dementia and a 16% lower risk of cognitive decline.
The authors say these findings suggest proven interventions for reducing blood pressure could also reduce the global burden of dementia.
It's estimated that nearly 153 million people worldwide will have dementia by 2050.
Source: Nature Medicine
Author Affiliations: UT Southwestern Medical Center, First Hospital of China Medical University, Hanzhong People’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong, Tulane University , Wake Forest University School of Medicine
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