A new study suggests that the risk of Alzheimer’s disease may increase with high blood pressure, especially in people over 60.
Published in the medical journal Neurology, the study found a potential link between untreated high blood pressure and the development of dementia.
While the study does not prove causation, it does establish an association, according to the American Academy of Neurology.
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The lead author, Matthew J. Lennon, M.D., PhD, emphasized the importance of controlling high blood pressure with medication to reduce the risk of stroke and cerebrovascular disease.
The study found that people age 60 and older with untreated high blood pressure may have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. (iStock)
Previous research has shown that taking blood pressure medications can lower dementia risk, but the impact on Alzheimer’s risk is less clear, Lennon explained.
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The study analyzed 31,250 individuals aged around 72, tracking cognitive changes and dementia diagnosis over time. After four years, 1,415 of them developed Alzheimer’s disease.
A doctor points at potential evidence of Alzheimer’s disease spotted in a PET scan at Brigham And Women’s Hospital in Boston on March 30, 2023. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File photo)
The study found that individuals with untreated high blood pressure had a 36% higher risk of Alzheimer’s compared to those without the condition. They had a 42% higher risk compared to those with high blood pressure who were under medication.
“Treating high blood pressure continues to be essential in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease as individuals age,” Lennon explained.
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