Long-Term Changes in Blood Pressure Linked to Increased Dementia Risk

A study in PLOS Medicine found people who experienced persistent and substantial changes in blood pressure were at a higher risk of developing dementia, reports Being Patient . The researchers monitored more than 5,000 dementia-free people in Rotterdam for about 15 years, and learned that those who had the largest increases — or declines — in blood pressure over the years were at greater risk of developing dementia than those whose numbers remained steady. "The association between blood pressure variation and dementia appears most pronounced when this variation occurred long before the diagnosis," the authors noted. The implication is that people might enjoy more benefits in seeking stable blood pressure earlier in life, long before any symptoms of neurodegenerative decline manifest. A separate study in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association suggested a regimen of lifestyle changes and medical interventions can slow cognitive decline from Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative disorders.