A new study has found that taking medications for high blood pressure—known as antihypertensives—may help lower the risk of dementia in older adults.
This offers hope that managing blood pressure could also support brain health as we age.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is very common among older people. It can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and stroke. In recent years, researchers have also noticed that high blood pressure may raise the risk of dementia—a condition that affects memory, thinking, and decision-making.
Dementia includes many different conditions, but the most common is Alzheimer’s disease. No matter the type, dementia can deeply affect daily life and independence.
To explore the connection between blood pressure medication and dementia risk, researchers studied more than 34,000 older adults. They grouped the participants into three categories: people with untreated high blood pressure, people with high blood pressure who were taking medication, and people without high blood pressure.
Over the next few years, the researchers tracked who developed dementia. They found that people with untreated high blood pressure were more likely to develop dementia compared to healthy individuals. But those who were taking blood pressure medicine had a much lower risk—almost the same as people without high blood pressure.
In short, treating high blood pressure with medication might not only protect your heart but also your brain. People who managed their blood pressure had a similar risk of dementia as those who never had high blood pressure at all.
However, it’s important to remember that this study does not prove that blood pressure medicine directly prevents dementia. It only shows a strong link between treatment and lower risk. More research is needed to understand how and why these medicines might protect brain health.
This study is still a big step forward. It suggests that taking care of your blood pressure may also help reduce your chances of getting dementia later in life.
If you have high blood pressure, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about how to manage it. Medicines might be part of your treatment, but healthy habits—like eating well, exercising regularly, and not smoking—are just as important.
Looking after your overall health is the best way to protect both your heart and your brain. As we age, making smart health choices can help us stay independent and enjoy a better quality of life.
This research was published in JAMA Network Open.
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