New research suggests that people aged 60 and older with untreated high blood pressure may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who are either treated for high blood pressure or do not have the condition at all.
The findings come from a meta-analysis—a study that combines data from multiple studies—published on August 14, 2024, in the online issue of Neurology.
While the research shows a connection between untreated high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s, it does not prove that high blood pressure directly causes the disease.
“High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke and cerebrovascular disease, but it can be managed with medication, which lowers the risk of these diseases,” explained Dr. Matthew J. Lennon, the study’s lead author from the University of New South Wales in Australia.
Previous studies have shown that controlling blood pressure can reduce the overall risk of dementias, but less was known about how it specifically affects the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
This new analysis focused on older adults and found that leaving high blood pressure untreated might increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s.
The meta-analysis included data from 31,250 participants, with an average age of 72, across 14 different studies.
These studies tracked cognitive changes and the onset of dementia over time.
The participants were from various countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. On average, the participants were followed for about four years, during which 1,415 people developed Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers examined each participant’s blood pressure, whether they had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and if they were taking medications to manage it.
They found that 9% of participants had untreated high blood pressure, 51% were on blood pressure medications, 36% did not have high blood pressure, and 4% had uncertain status.
After adjusting for factors like age, sex, and education, the study found that those with untreated high blood pressure had a 36% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to people without high blood pressure.
They also had a 42% higher risk compared to those who had high blood pressure but were taking medications.
“Our research, which included participants from around the world, found that taking blood pressure medications is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life,” said Dr. Lennon. “These results highlight the importance of managing high blood pressure as we age to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.”
One limitation of the study was that the definition of high blood pressure varied by location, which could lead to differences in diagnosis across different regions.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about breakfast for better blood pressure management, and the gut feeling that lowers blood pressure.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
