Reducing blood pressure helps prevent mental deterioration

A major study concludes that lowering blood pressure more than recommended in general can reduce the risk of mental deterioration that often leads to Alzheimer's disease.

This is the first time that a single step is clearly demonstrated to help prevent a dreaded condition that has had people trying crosswords, dietary supplements and many other things in hope to keep their minds in shape.

The large, federally funded study has previously found that treating people with a high pressure reading of 120 instead of 140 reduces the risk of heart problems and death. The new findings show that it also decreases the risk of mild cognitive impairment, a common precursor to dementia.

The results were announced Wednesday at the International Conference of the Alzheimer's Association in Chicago.