High blood pressure can indeed increase your chances of getting dementia. Research has shown a clear link between hypertension and cognitive decline, especially when it comes to vascular dementia.
When your blood pressure is consistently high, it puts extra strain on the blood vessels in your brain. Over time, this can damage the small arteries and reduce blood flow to important brain regions. With less blood and oxygen reaching brain cells, they may start to deteriorate or die off.
The effects of hypertension on the brain tend to build up gradually over many years. That’s why controlling your blood pressure in midlife – your 40s, 50s and 60s – seems to be particularly important for reducing dementia risk later on.
Interestingly, the link appears stronger for vascular dementia than for Alzheimer’s disease. Vascular dementia is directly related to problems with blood flow in the brain, so it makes sense that hypertension would be a major risk factor. For Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure still increases risk, but the connection isn’t quite as strong.
The good news is that treating high blood pressure can help lower your chances of cognitive decline. Medications, lifestyle changes like exercise and a healthy diet, and stress management can all play a role in getting hypertension under control. Even if you’ve had high blood pressure for years, bringing it down to a healthier range may still provide brain benefits.
Some studies have found that people who aggressively lowered their blood pressure had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, even years after stopping treatment. This suggests there may be long-term protective effects from periods of good blood pressure control.
It’s worth noting that very low blood pressure can also potentially cause problems for brain health, especially in older adults. The goal is to find a healthy middle ground – not too high, not too low.
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure and dementia risk, talk to your doctor. They can assess your individual situation and help create a plan to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. This may include regular monitoring, medication if needed, and lifestyle recommendations.
Remember, high blood pressure is just one of many factors that can influence dementia risk. A holistic approach that also addresses things like physical activity, social engagement, and mental stimulation is ideal for supporting long-term brain health.
