Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, according to AHA statistics.
Of those, only about 1 in 5 have their condition under control, which can be done with regular exercise and a healthy diet, and possibly medication.
In a study from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, scientists found the longer a person’s blood pressure levels remain under control, the lower their risk may be for dementia.
The findings add to evidence suggesting that good heart and brain health is best achieved by keeping systolic blood pressure (the upper number) consistently under control, compared to having levels that vary, even if the average falls within the target range.
Previous studies have linked uncontrolled high blood pressure, also called hypertension, to a greater risk for dementia and cognitive decline.
Whether a person’s blood pressure is considered under control is often defined by the most current measurement. However, blood pressure levels can fluctuate over time, even throughout the day.
In the study, the team examined the link between the length of time systolic blood pressure levels remain in range and the risk of cognitive decline or dementia.
They analyzed data for 8,415 people in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial, or SPRINT, which compared intensive treatment to standard treatment of systolic blood pressure among people with hypertension.
The target range for intensive control was defined as 110 to 130 mmHg and the standard control target range was defined as 120 to 140 mmHg.
(Normal blood pressure is defined as a systolic reading of less than 120 and a diastolic reading – the bottom number – of less than 80.)
Participants, who were an average of 68 years old, were free of cognitive decline or dementia at the start of the study.
During a follow-up of five years, the team showed people whose systolic blood pressure levels remained in the target range longer were less likely to be diagnosed with probable dementia.
Each 31.5% increase of time in the target range was associated with a 16% lower dementia risk.
Healthcare professionals don’t typically see patients often enough to monitor blood pressure on a regular basis, who was not involved in the new research.
But greater use of home blood pressure monitoring could help track the time someone stays within the target range.
Wearable devices that use Wi-Fi to transmit measurements to a person’s healthcare team could prove useful.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about how diets could help lower high blood pressure, and an effective way to treat resistant high blood pressure.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Vitamin B supplements could help reduce dementia risk.
The study was conducted by Sitong Li et al and published in presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions conference.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
