Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a group of symptoms caused by brain diseases, characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and difficulty performing daily activities.

As population ages worldwide, dementia has become a major public health concern with an estimated 50 million people living with dementia, and an additional 10 million new cases every year.

High blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, according to many observational studies.

In this article, we will explore the relationship between high blood pressure and dementia, how high blood pressure affects the brain, and what can be done to prevent or reduce high blood pressure.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, language, and judgment.

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells, which interferes with the communication between brain cells, and eventually leads to the death of brain cells. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing but is more common in older people, particularly those over 65 years old.

Dementia is a term that describes a range of symptoms caused by different brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases.

What is High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force that moves blood through your arteries, veins, and capillaries. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is composed of two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.

Systolic blood pressure (the top number) measures the force of blood against arterial walls when the heart beats, while diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) measures the force of blood when the heart rests between beats.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a medical condition in which the force of blood against arterial walls is consistently too high, which over time, can damage blood vessels and cause a variety of health problems.

High blood pressure is a silent killer because it often has no symptoms, and many people do not know they have high blood pressure until they experience a stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure.

The Link Between High Blood Pressure and Dementia

A growing body of research suggests that high blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia.

Several observational studies have found that high blood pressure in midlife is associated with a higher risk of dementia in later life.

One study followed 1,440 participants for 12 years and found that those with hypertension at baseline had a 61% higher risk of dementia than those without hypertension.

Another study followed 4,722 participants for 24 years and found that those with high blood pressure in midlife had a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in later life than those with normal blood pressure.

Several studies have also found that controlling high blood pressure in midlife may reduce the risk of dementia in later life.

One study found that treating high blood pressure in midlife reduced the risk of dementia by 6% for every 10 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure.

How High Blood Pressure Affects the Brain?

High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain, leading to reduced blood flow and oxygen to the brain, and the death of brain cells.

High blood pressure can also cause microscopic tears in the blood-brain barrier, which normally protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood. These tiny tears can allow toxic substances to enter the brain, leading to inflammation and damage.

High blood pressure can also increase the risk of stroke, which is a major cause of dementia, particularly vascular dementia. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die.

Strokes can affect different parts of the brain, causing different symptoms, including memory loss, language problems, and difficulty performing daily activities.

Preventing and Reducing High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, and reducing high blood pressure can reduce the risk of dementia. Lifestyle changes and medications can help lower high blood pressure and prevent or reduce the risk of dementia.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes that can help lower high blood pressure include:.

Healthy diet: Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, and low in saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugars can help lower high blood pressure.
Reducing sodium intake: Sodium can raise blood pressure, and reducing sodium intake can lower high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day and an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults.
Physical activity: Regular exercise can help lower high blood pressure and improve overall health. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, per week.
Weight loss: Losing weight can help lower high blood pressure and improve overall health. A healthy weight is a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9.
Reducing alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, and reducing alcohol intake can lower high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men.

Medications

Medications can help lower high blood pressure, particularly in people with severe or uncontrolled hypertension. Some common medications for high blood pressure include:.

Diuretics: Diuretics, or water pills, help the kidneys flush excess salt and water from the body, which can lower blood pressure.
Beta-blockers: Beta-blockers reduce the heart rate and the force of the heart’s contractions, which can lower blood pressure and reduce the workload of the heart.
ACE inhibitors: ACE inhibitors block the production of a hormone called angiotensin II, which can raise blood pressure, and also relax blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure.
ARBs: ARBs block the action of angiotensin II, which can raise blood pressure, and also relax blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure.

Conclusion

Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and daily activities, and is a major public health concern worldwide.

High blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Reducing high blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medications can help reduce the risk of dementia and improve overall health.

Eating a healthy diet, reducing sodium intake, engaging in regular physical activity, achieving a healthy weight, and reducing alcohol intake can help lower high blood pressure. Medications such as diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs can also help lower high blood pressure, particularly in people with severe or uncontrolled hypertension.