A startling study suggests that people with untreated high blood pressure have a significantly increased risk of dementia. Australian researchers examined data from more than 30,000 people from 14 different countries to better understand the relationship between cognitive health and hypertension.
Disturbingly, their neurological study found that ignoring blood pressure problems increases the personal risk of developing non-Alzheimer’s dementia by a whopping 68% and Alzheimer’s disease by 36% among those over 60. In light of this, lead author Dr Matthew Lennon, of Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, told The Medical Republic that blood pressure medication should be a potential dementia preventative.
“While general practitioners and physicians may have an instinct to prescribe chronic disease medications as patients progress late, our study shows that there may be ongoing benefits to cognition and dementia risk even in the very elderly,” he told the publication.
“For those older people who look forward to a happy, healthy and thriving life, it’s really important to check their blood pressure regularly and work to control it,” she told the publication.
Although it is easy to confuse dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, there is a clear difference between them. Dementia is a broad term used to describe several different brain diseases, including Huntington’s, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia.
Alzheimer’s is another disease included in this umbrella term and refers to the most common type of dementia characterized by progressive symptoms that affect the brain’s ability to learn, remember and reason.
The results of the neurology study come just months after the University of Oxford found that type 2 diabetes – a condition often worsened by obesity – can also worsen the onset of dementia, in addition to smoking, drinking beer and poor sleep.
Dr. Lennon also said, “Our meta-analysis of people from around the world found that taking blood pressure medication was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s throughout later life. These results suggest that treating high blood pressure as people age continues to be a critical factor in reducing Alzheimer’s risk.”
High blood pressure is affected by many factors, including your age, ethnicity and dietary intake, and a high-salt diet is worse. Although it is often asymptomatic, there are a few signs you can look out for, according to the NHS. These include headache, blurred vision, and chest pain, which may feel like an uncomfortable pressure on the left side or center of the chest.
However, blood pressure tests are the only way to diagnose this problem for sure. If you are concerned, it is important to see your GP or call 111.
