People with fluctuating blood pressure are at Greater risk of developing dementia

The people whose blood pressure varies more often may be at greater risk to develop Dementia than those who have usually steady blood pressure, a recent study says.

Dementia generally termed as a group of symptoms affecting thinking, social and mental abilities sternly enough to interfere with the usual lifestyle of an individual. Hypertension (constantly high blood pressure) is one of the known risk factors for dementia.

The study was carried on 1,674 older adults whose blood pressure readings were actively monitored. It reveals that compared to individuals having slight to no fluctuation, with people have the most variations in blood pressure were nearly twice as likely to develop dementia during the next five years. In other words; the study demonstrated that a consistent blood pressure variation was significantly associated with the development of all causes of dementia, vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, irrespective of steady blood pressure.

The average age of sample participants were 71 of whose blood pressure was measured three times every day before having breakfast or any medication for nearly one month. Around 43 percent of the participants took medicines to manage their blood pressure level.

Further, researchers analyzed the data from blood pressure readings taken during the month, conducted cerebral testing to uncover the development of dementia, and reviewed medical histories for the prevalence of stroke. After five years, 134 and 47 participants had developed Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia respectively, due to reduced blood flow to the brain.

The study further revealed that the participants having most variability in blood pressure, higher systolic blood pressure were at increased risk of developing vascular dementia than Alzheimer’s disease. The top number of the blood pressure reading is referred as the Systolic pressure while the second number is termed as Diastolic pressure.

Although the study didn’t assess why this might be the reason, it’s likely that the variations in blood pressure might cause some changes in the brain’s structure and function, which leads to the development of dementia.

Limitation of the study - Researchers didn’t have any information regarding participants’ lifestyle or medications during the five years follow up period.

Thus, PSM-India requests everyone to take specific measures to control their blood pressure levels, which include certain lifestyle changes i.e. diet, exercise and so on.