People Who Feel Dizzy When They Stand Up May Have Higher Risk of Dementia

A study in Neurology found certain people who feel dizzy or lightheaded when they stand may be at higher risk of dementia later, reports EurekAlert . This condition, known as orthostatic hypotension, stems from a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up. The condition's association with dementia was found only in people who have a drop in their systolic blood pressure, not those experiencing only a drop in their diastolic blood pressure or in general blood pressure. The researchers looked at 2,131 people, average age 73, who did not have dementia when they enrolled. A total of 15 percent exhibited orthostatic hypotension, 9 percent had systolic orthostatic hypotension, and 6 percent had diastolic orthostatic hypotension. Participants were evaluated over 12 years for dementia development, which was recorded in 462 people. Those with systolic orthostatic hypotension were nearly 40 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who lacked it.