Intensive Blood Pressure Management Reduces Dementia Risk by 15%, Study Finds

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated that intensive management of high blood pressure can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia. Published in Nature Medicine, the research involved nearly 34,000 adults aged 40 and above with uncontrolled hypertension across rural China.​

Key Findings

• Dementia Risk Reduction: Participants receiving intensive blood pressure treatment experienced a 15% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those receiving standard care.​
• Cognitive Impairment: The intensive treatment group also showed a 16% reduction in the risk of mild cognitive impairment without dementia.
• Treatment Approach: The intervention included personalized antihypertensive medications, lifestyle coaching, and home blood pressure monitoring, all provided by trained community healthcare providers.​

Study Design

Conducted over four years, the randomized controlled trial assigned participants from 326 villages to either an intensive treatment group or a usual care group. The intensive group received comprehensive support, including free or low-cost medications and regular health coaching, while the usual care group received standard blood pressure management without additional resources.​

Expert Insights

Professor Jiang He from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, a co-author of the study, emphasized the global implications:​

“Antihypertensive treatment can prevent dementia in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Given the high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension worldwide, this effective intervention should be widely adopted and scaled up to reduce the global burden of dementia.”​

While the study did not assess baseline cognitive function, researchers believe the large sample size and randomized design mitigate potential biases. Experts like Professor Joanna Wardlaw from the University of Edinburgh acknowledge the study’s significance but call for further research to isolate the effects of blood pressure control from lifestyle modifications.​

Implications for Public Health

With the World Health Organization estimating that 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2021, the study’s findings offer a promising avenue for prevention. By integrating intensive blood pressure management into public health strategies, especially in populations with high rates of uncontrolled hypertension, it may be possible to significantly reduce the incidence of dementia globally.​

This study underscores the critical link between cardiovascular health and cognitive function, highlighting the importance of proactive blood pressure management in mitigating dementia risk.