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LONDON (Reuters) – Reducing blood pressure may help protect memory and the ability to think later in life, researchers said Monday, the first sign of hope that rates of mental decline could be reduced .
The study looked at more than 9,000 people over the age of 50 and found that people who lowered their blood pressure to 120 were 19% less likely to have moderate cognitive impairment – memory loss and brain force that precedes Alzheimer's disease.
The results of the study were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). It has long been known that lowering blood pressure can be beneficial for people at risk of heart disease, but this is the first time blood pressure has been linked to brain health.
"These results offer real hope.A moderate cognitive impairment is a known risk factor for dementia, and all people with dementia have moderate cognitive impairment," said Maria Carillo, scientific scientist responsible for dementia. ; Alzheimer's.
Early results showed that participants were 17% less likely to develop dementia,
But the results were not statistically significant because the study was short and no final conclusions could be reached.
Read also: New therapeutic perspectives to fight against the symptoms of Alzheimer's
As the results were very promising, the Alzheimer's Association announced the award of more than $ 800,000 to support the follow-up experience, which would extend the follow-up by two additional years to date. further investigate the impact of treatment on reducing the risk of dementia.
High blood pressure is one of the leading factors in heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, and more and more research suggests it could increase the risk of dementia.
"A simple cognitive impairment is simply the closest form of dementia," says Dr. Jeff Williamson. Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly 6 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, of whom 200,000 are under the age of 65. By 2050, experts predict that this number will rise to nearly 14 million, according to the Alzheimer's Association. .
It is still too early to say that a reduction in blood pressure can prevent Alzheimer's disease, and some doctors warn to make complete changes in the management of patients based solely on these findings.
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