Blood Pressure and Dementia Risk: There’s a Connection

Untreated hypertension (high blood pressure) is associated with higher dementia risk later in life. Dementia is a cognitive illness that affects memory and other mental functions, caused by changes in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of dementia.

However, managing high blood pressure can help get rid of this risk. According to research published in JAMA Network Open, people who treated their high blood pressure with blood pressure medications did not have an elevated risk of dementia — their risk was the same as people who didn’t have high blood pressure.

These results suggest that managing your blood pressure is important for your cognitive health and overall health, in addition to your cardiovascular health. Work with your healthcare provider to help keep your blood pressure as healthy as possible.