A new study suggests that people over 60 with untreated high blood pressure may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The research, published in Neurology, shows that individuals who don’t manage their high blood pressure are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to those taking medication or those without high blood pressure.
However, this study does not prove that high blood pressure directly causes Alzheimer’s, only that there is a connection.
Dr. Matthew J. Lennon, the study’s author from the University of New South Wales in Australia, explained that high blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes and other brain-related diseases.
It can be controlled with medication, which helps reduce these risks.
Previous research has shown that taking blood pressure medications can lower the risk of various dementias, but less is known about its specific impact on Alzheimer’s disease.
This new analysis suggests that not treating high blood pressure may increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s in older adults.
The meta-analysis involved 31,250 people from 14 different countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, and the United States. The participants, with an average age of 72, were followed for about four years.
During this time, 1,415 of them developed Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers analyzed each participant’s blood pressure levels and whether they were using medications to treat the condition.
The results showed that 9% of participants had untreated high blood pressure, while 51% were taking medication to manage it, and 36% did not have high blood pressure. The remaining 4% were uncertain.
After adjusting for factors like age, sex, and education, the researchers found that people with untreated high blood pressure had a 36% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to those without the condition.
The risk was 42% higher for those not taking medication, compared to people who were managing their blood pressure with treatment.
“These findings highlight the importance of treating high blood pressure, even as people get older,” said Dr. Lennon. “Our study shows that taking blood pressure medication can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s throughout a person’s later years.”
One limitation of the study is that definitions of high blood pressure varied across different countries, which could cause some inconsistencies in diagnosis. Still, the study underscores the importance of managing high blood pressure as part of a strategy to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The research was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia and the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
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