Dementia Linked to High Blood Pressure
11 July 2008
People with high blood pressure are up to six hundred per cent more likely to develop dementia, says the Alzheimer's Society during Dementia Awareness Week (6- 12 July 2008). High blood pressure led to a six fold increase in vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia in the UK, according to their research.
High blood pressure affects one in three adults in the UK and also doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and increases risk of stroke, which damages the brain and can trigger dementia.
High blood pressure restricts oxygen to the brain but the symptoms often go unnoticed and a quarter of people are not aware they have it. Alzheimer’s Society estimates that tackling the problem in midlife could reduce the number of deaths from dementia by up to 15, 000 people a year.
Neil Hunt, chief executive, Alzheimer’s Society says,
‘People fear dementia more than any other condition in later life; it is a devastating disease that robs people of their lives. Everyone should get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly and ensure they receive effective treatment if they are at risk. Having a low salt diet, maintaining a healthy weight and regulating your alcohol intake can also help tackle high blood pressure. This Dementia Awareness Week we are telling people to ‘Be Headstrong’ and reduce your risk of dementia.
For further information on how to reduce your risk, download the Be Headstrong booklet from www.challengedementia.org.uk.’
Professor Clive Ballard, director of research, Alzheimer's Society says,
‘Treating people's high blood pressure to best practice standards is vital. Only half of people over 65 receive effective treatment, yet we know treatment works. In the US a combination of public awareness campaigns and rigorous treatment has reduced cardio-vascular disease by up to 60%. By working together, we can take the same steps towards reducing the risk of dementia in the UK.’
The study pulls together all research on high blood pressure as a risk for vascular dementia and forms part of a larger review by the Alzheimer's Society of factors that increase the risk of dementia. The charity's top tips to reduce risk of dementia are
- Get active, see our A-Z guide to personal training if you lack motivation
- Eat a balanced diet, you may want to seek advice from a nutritionist or dietitian
- Keep a healthy weight
- Watch your blood pressure and cholesterol
- Stop smoking
If you found this article of interest, and want to keep your brain active, you may also want to read about Brain Gym, and find out about a Mind Map course.