Intensive Treatment of Blood Pressure Helps Prevent Memory Decline in Older Adults

A follow-up to the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) Memory and Cognition In Decreased hypertension (MIND) study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests aggressive blood pressure therapy could stave off memory decline in older adults, reports the Harvard Health Blog . Older adults with elevated blood pressure were given either standard treatment to lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) below 140 mm Hg, or intensive treatment to reduce SBP below 120 mm H. A subset of SPRINT MIND participants followed for two years after the study's termination had their memory and thinking abilities evaluated. Dementia risk was 17 percent lower in the intensive treatment cohort versus the standard treatment group. Meanwhile, the risk of mild cognitive impairment was 19 percent lower in the intensive treatment group.