Uncontrolled blood pressure can result in several health complications resembling heart attacks, strokes and dementia. A latest study has found that patients who take medication to regulate blood pressure in old age have a lower risk of dementia.

In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of adults within the U.S. have hypertension, and only 25% of those with hypertension have it under control. In 2021, 691,095 people lost their lives within the U.S. directly or not directly as a consequence of unmanaged hypertension.

Within the study, published in Jama Network, researchers found that older adults on blood pressure medications have a 26% lower risk of developing dementia than those with untreated hypertension.

“Hypertension is essentially the most prevalent risk factor for dementia, affecting a couple of billion people worldwide. Midlife hypertension is related to an roughly 60% increased risk of all-cause dementia and an roughly 25% increased risk of Alzheimer’s dementia,” the researchers wrote.

Vascular dementia is essentially the most common type of dementia related to hypertension. It happens when the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen as a consequence of the thickening of blood vessels brought on by hypertension. The condition also results in the buildup of amyloids, that are related to dementia.

“Previously, studies have found variously that antihypertensive use in late life may increase dementia risk, decrease it, or haven’t any effect in any respect. There have been only a few large studies which have examined those older than 80 and people in developing countries,” said Dr. Matthew Lennon, the lead creator of the newest study.

In the newest study, researchers evaluated 17 previous studies that used data from around 34,519 community-dwelling older adults from 15 countries, including the U.S.

The participants were aged above 60 and were followed up for 4 years. They were grouped into three categories: those without hypertension, those with hypertension but treated with medication and people with hypertension but without medication.

The findings suggest that individuals with untreated hypertension have the next risk of developing dementia.

The study’s limitation is that because the participants were from different countries, the researchers didn’t have information on the form of blood pressure medications and dosage taken by them. Also, the definitions of hypertension change over time and vary across countries. So, there might be variations in the way it is diagnosed.

Published by Medicaldaily.com