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Having high blood pressure between the ages of 50 and 60 could lead to dementia later in life according to a new statement published in the journal Hypertension.
Experts reviewed numerous existing studies and concluded that high blood pressure "disrupts the structure and function of cerebral blood vessels". That disruption can cause damage to the white matter parts of the brain that are necessary for cognitive function. This damage could lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Strong evidence suggests that high blood pressure during mid-life in particular negatively impacts brain function decades later.
"The relationship to dementia is not fully established, but putting all the data together on the issue it does appear that increased blood pressure in midlife is bad for the brain,” says Costantino Iadecola, MD, chair of the writing committee.
More extensive research is required to determine whether treatments for mid-life high blood pressure could reduce the risk of damage to the brain later in life. Earlier this year, UK research on more than four million people found a link between high blood pressure and the risk of vascular dementia.
Next to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia. It is caused by a “reduction in blood flow to the brain resulting from a stroke or damage to small blood vessels.” People who suffer from vascular dementia suffer loss of memory, problems with communication, and a change in personality.
Dr. Iadecola notes that one of the challenges with recommending blood pressure treatment as a means of preventing dementia has been the length of time it takes for cognitive problems to arise after the patient has high blood pressure.
Long-term studies are needed to determine when it is best to begin treatment to protect the brain from damage.
“We know treating high blood pressure reduces the risk of heart diseases such as heart attacks, congestive heart failure and stroke, and it is important to continue treating it to reduce the risks of these disease,” says Dr. Iadecola. "However, we need randomized controlled studies – which do prove cause and effect – to determine if treating high blood pressure, especially in middle age, will also decrease the risk of cognitive impairment later in life."
"Picking apart this link could help a lot of people to reduce their risk of dementia, which is why Alzheimer's Society is funding several studies in this area,” says Dr. Doug Brown, director of research and development at Alzheimer's Society.
To learn more about the link between mid-life hypertension and Alzheimer’s, read this full article.