In a recent study published in Neurology , researchers investigated the effects of hypertension history, antihypertensive use, and baseline blood pressure (BP) on the risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and non-AD in late life. Study: Blood Pressure, Antihypertensive Use, and Late-Life Alzheimer and Non-Alzheimer Dementia Risk . Image Credit: Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock.
com Background Hypertension, affecting 1.3 billion people globally, is the leading cause of strokes and cerebrovascular disease. Mid-life hypertension has been linked to a higher risk of vascular dementia (VaD) (Cognitive decline caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often following strokes) and AD.
However, studies on late-life hypertension show inconsistent results. Antihypertensive use has been associated with reduced dementia risk, but its impact on AD remains unclear. Further research is needed to clarify the specific effects of BP and antihypertensive use on AD and non-AD risk, particularly considering variations by sex, age, and ethnicity.
About the study The present analysis included data from 14 community-based longitudinal studies of aging, encompassing 31,250 participants from the Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC) group. This previously described consortium involves studies from 14 countries, examining cognitive changes and dementia diagnoses over time. Participants were excluded if they were under 60 years old or had a dem.