Key points from article :
A large study led by Jiang He at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that lowering high blood pressure can significantly reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. The study, which included 33,995 people in rural China with hypertension, divided participants into two groups. One group received aggressive treatment with multiple anti-hypertensive medications, while the control group received standard treatment. After four years, those on the intensive regimen showed a 15% reduction in dementia diagnoses and a 16% decrease in cognitive impairment compared to the control group.
The study provides compelling evidence that controlling high blood pressure, particularly in those with hypertension, can lower the risk of cognitive decline. Experts, including Zachary Marcum and Raj Shah, emphasized that while blood pressure treatment is vital, it should be part of a broader approach to dementia prevention, considering other risk factors like smoking, inactivity, and social isolation. These findings underscore the importance of managing hypertension to improve both heart health and brain function as we age.
