Lowering Blood Pressure Cuts Risk of Memory Decline: U.S. Study

A U.S. study presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference found aggressively reducing blood pressure can significantly cut the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia among people with hypertension, reports Reuters . The investigators analyzed data from the 2015 SPRINT clinical trial involving more than 9,300 participants with hypertension, which demonstrated significant cardiovascular benefits in people whose systolic blood pressure was lowered aggressively to below 120, compared to a higher target of less than 140. The study explored the implications of aggressive blood pressure lowering on symptoms of dementia from any cause, and MCI. People whose blood pressure was reduced to below 120 had a 19 percent lower rate of new cases of MCI and a 15 percent reduction in MCI and dementia combined. The research did not indicate an overall reduction in dementia alone. The Alzheimer's Association's Keith Fargo says the results most likely affect the impact of blood pressure reduction on vascular dementia, but he notes many people with Alzheimer's also have some degree of vascular disease, and reducing the total dementia risk could delay the onset of memory problems.