Intensive lowering of blood pressure significantly improves mildly impaired cognitive function, i.e. thinking, memory and reasoning abilities but does not significantly reduce the risk of dementia, as per a recent study.
Highlights:
Intensive blood pressure control did not significantly reduce dementia risk but did show significant impact in lowering mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as per the final, peer-reviewed results from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial-Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension (SPRINT MIND). The findings of the study appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association.- Aggressive lowering of blood pressure significantly reduces the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is a well-known risk factor and precursor of dementia
- Currently, 47 million people are diagnosed with dementia worldwide and figures are estimated to reach 75 million by 2030
- At present, there are no proven measures to lower or prevent dementia risk. However, intensive blood pressure control is safe for the brain and could be a potential measure to reduce the risk
High Blood Pressure in 40s Can Increase Dementia Risk in Women
Women who are in their 40s and developed high blood pressure are more likely to develop dementia later in life than those who had stable and normal blood pressure levels.
Women who are in their 40s and developed high blood pressure are more likely to develop dementia later in life than those who had stable and normal blood pressure levels.
‘Aggressive blood pressure control can reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is a known precursor of dementia. Currently, there are no other proven measures to reduce or prevent risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.’
Read More..
Read More..
Advertisement
What is MCI?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is when people have a slightly decreased ability to do activities such as thinking, reasoning, and remembering compared to what is normal for people of their age. Dementia refers to a much more severe loss in the ability to perform cognitive functions and affects activities of daily living and makes the patient dependent on others.Advertisement
Blood Pressure Drugs and Its One Unusual Benefit Dementia Prevention
When anti-hypertensive drugs were used by older African-Americans, it prevented dementia in them, finds a new study. Prevention of dementia can now be added to the list of benefits of good blood pressure control with anti-hypertensive medications.
When anti-hypertensive drugs were used by older African-Americans, it prevented dementia in them, finds a new study. Prevention of dementia can now be added to the list of benefits of good blood pressure control with anti-hypertensive medications.
Blood Pressure Control & Effect on MCI and Dementia
The SPRINT-MIND study, i.e. Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial - Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension, was an integral part and planned an extension of the initially designed SPRINT study.The initial SPRINT study was a large randomized trial which looked at the effects of intensive lowering of blood pressure on heart and kidney function. The SPRINT trial was halted in August 2015 after 3.3 years but the SPRINT MIND study to determine MCI and dementia risk proceeded as planned for the full five years
- The volunteers in SPRINT were adults 50 years and older at increased risk of heart disease
- Intensive blood pressure control was defined in the study as a systolic blood pressure target of less than 120 mmHg, versus a standard target of less than 140 mmHg
- From November 2010 to March 2013 over 9,300 participants were randomly assigned to one of the two blood pressure target groups with nearly 4,700 in each group
- The SPRINT MIND trial hoped to determine if intensive blood pressure control would also reduce the risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment over the ensuing five years
- The SPRINT MIND participants were grouped into either one of three categories namely, no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or probable dementia
- Cognitive tests were assigned to participants with the history of high blood pressure but no prior history of stroke or diabetes when the trial began and more than 91 percent had at least one follow up
- The primary results did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between standard and intensive treatment of blood pressure in the proportion of participants who had dementia. However, the study had fewer cases of dementia than expected
- However, the secondary results demonstrated that the intensive blood pressure treatment lowered the risk of MCI as well as the combined risk of MCI and dementia
"The fact that there was still an MCI result when the study was cut short makes these results encouraging," explained Laurie Ryan, Ph.D., chief of the Dementias of Aging Branch in the NIA Division of Neuroscience.
Advertisement
Diabetes High Blood Pressure in Middle Age Damage Your Brain and Cognition
Midlife onset of diabetes and high blood pressure leads to brain atrophy and cognitive decline, finds study.
Midlife onset of diabetes and high blood pressure leads to brain atrophy and cognitive decline, finds study.
Scope of Study
Currently, there are no other measures to reduce or prevent the risk of dementia and the results of the SPRINT MIND study suggest that intensive blood pressure control is safe for the brain and can potentially be a modifiable risk factor to reduce the risk of MCI (and future dementia). Persons should, therefore, consult their doctors and together decide the best way to reach their blood pressure goals through lifestyle modifications or medications."This is a landmark study in that it is the first trial of its size and scope to look at a modifiable risk factor for dementia and MCI," said Lenore J. Launer, Ph.D., a senior investigator in the NIA Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences and co-author of the paper. "The study had a carefully designed hypothesis, used approved appropriate tools to assess dementia and MCI, was blinded for diagnosis, and got a good sample of older people."
Reference:
- Effect of Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Control on Probable Dementia - (http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.21442)
Source-Medindia
Cognitive Impairment Risk High in Hypertensive Patients
Patients with high blood pressure and progression of periventricular white matter hyperintensities showed signs of cognitive impairment despite taking medication to lower their blood pressure.
Patients with high blood pressure and progression of periventricular white matter hyperintensities showed signs of cognitive impairment despite taking medication to lower their blood pressure.
