A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine reveals that lowering blood pressure can significantly reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, offering new hope for those affected by this devastating condition.
Reducing High Blood Pressure Can Cut Risk of Dementia
Blood pressure reduction is associated with lowered risk of dementia. Shutterstock/grinny.
A large study published in Nature Medicine has found that reducing high blood pressure can cut the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. The study, conducted by Jiang He at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and his colleagues, involved 33,995 people in rural China who were all 40 or older and had hypertension.
Dementia prevention involves a combination of lifestyle modifications and medical interventions.
Regular exercise, such as walking or yoga, can reduce the risk by up to 30%.
A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is also essential.
Managing stress through meditation and sleep hygiene can further lower the risk.
Additionally, maintaining social connections and engaging in mentally stimulating activities can help build cognitive reserve.
Some studies suggest that regular physical activity may delay dementia onset by several years.
The participants were split into two random groups: one group received aggressive treatment for their high blood pressure, including multiple medications such as ACE inhibitors, diuretics, or calcium channel blockers, while the other group received standard treatment. The researchers found that on average, people in the group that received many medications had lower blood pressure levels than those in the control group.
The study also found that compared to the control group, 15% fewer people on multiple medications received a dementia diagnosis during the study, and 16% fewer had cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that reducing high blood pressure can be an effective way to reduce the risk of dementia.
Experts agree that this is significant evidence for the clinical benefit of blood pressure reduction medications. However, they also emphasize that treating high blood pressure is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to preventing dementia. Other known risk factors include smoking, inactivity, obesity, social isolation, and hearing loss, which can become more influential at different stages of life.
To reduce the risk of dementia, experts recommend a holistic approach over the course of a lifetime. This includes not only treating high blood pressure but also addressing other risk factors and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
Blood Pressure Reduction: A Key to Reducing Dementia Risk
Concerns about hypertension start when a person’s systolic pressure exceeds 130 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or diastolic pressure goes over 80 mmHg. Shutterstock/grinny.
The researchers also found that on average, people who received many medications had dropped their blood pressure from 157.0/87.9 down to 127.6/72.6 mmHg, while the control group managed to take it from 155.4/87.2 down just slightly to 147.7/81.0 mmHg.
Regular physical activity, such as walking or jogging, can help lower blood pressure.
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains also plays a crucial role in blood pressure reduction.
Limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day is essential.
Regular stress management techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, can also help reduce blood pressure.
The Importance of Holistic Approach
For many years, a lot of people have known that blood pressure is a likely risk factor for dementia. Shutterstock/grinny.
Raj Shah at Rush University in Chicago says that adding to the evidence that treating high blood pressure can help stave off dementia is helpful, but it is just one piece of the dementia puzzle, because multiple factors influence the brain’s abilities as we age.
“We should treat high blood pressure for multiple reasons,” says Shah. “For people’s longevity and well-being and so they can age healthily over time.”
Marcum also says that to avoid dementia, people should think more widely than just about blood pressure. He says there are other known risk factors that are linked to an increased risk of dementia, including smoking, inactivity, obesity, social isolation, and hearing loss.
And different factors become more influential at different stages of life. To reduce the risk of dementia, “there’s got to be a holistic approach over the course of a lifetime”, says Shah.
Conclusion
The study provides significant evidence for the clinical benefit of blood pressure reduction medications in reducing the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. However, experts emphasize that treating high blood pressure is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to preventing dementia. A holistic approach that addresses other risk factors and adopts healthy lifestyle habits is essential for reducing the risk of dementia.
- newscientist.com | Reducing high blood pressure can cut risk of dementia
