According to a new study it is observed that reducing blood pressure by medication can reduce the risk of dementia by half. It is already known that hypertension (high blood pressure) increases the risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In a study carried out by doctors in Dallas, the effect of lowering blood pressure on dementia rates has been examined.
A group of patients with systolic hypertension - with levels from 160 to 190 mm Hg - were looked at. For around four years, these patients took blood-pressure lowering drugs or placebo. Those on the medication had a 50 per cent lower risk of dementia. The study was then stopped in 1998, when it was realized that lowering blood pressure by medication had the effect of reducing stroke risk; it was considered unethical to keep people on placebo.People are often told that they should keep on with blood pressure medication to cut their risk of having a heart attack. This new study emphasizes another potential benefit - keeping dementia at stand.
