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Simple measurements taken during a routine blood pressure check can predict the age at risk of dementia before symptoms appear.
That’s according to new research presented this week at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in Louisiana.
The findings draw on two studies led by Georgetown University researchers, who suggest that monitoring how blood vessels age and strengthen over time could provide a window into future mental health.
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Data shows rates of dementia and age-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as people age. Meanwhile, half of US adults have hypertension (high blood pressure).
Scientists believe that efforts to better deal with high blood pressure – a major cause of heart disease and a risk factor for dementia – could have an impact on both heart and brain health.
Data shows rates of dementia and age-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as people age. Meanwhile, half of US adults have high blood pressure. (Stock)
“Blood pressure control is not just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it may also be one of the most effective ways to maintain mental health,” said lead author Dr. Newton Nyirenda, an epidemiologist at Georgetown University in Washington, in a press release.
The study focused on two metrics: pulse pressure-heart rate index and measured pulse wave velocity. Both were calculated using data collected during routine doctor visits, such as heart rate, age and blood pressure.
“Blood pressure control isn’t just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it can also be one of the most effective ways to maintain mental health.”
Researchers examined five years of data patterns on more than 8,500 people in the SPRINT study, a large study of adults aged 50 and older with high blood pressure. At follow-up, 323 participants developed probable dementia.
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In another study, the team found that the pulse pressure-heart rate index was a strong independent predictor of dementia risk in adults over 50. For participants under the age of 65, every one-unit increase was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia.
In participants younger than 65 years, an increase in heart rate index was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia. (Stock)
A second study found that adults with a pulse wave speed that rises steadily or rises rapidly are more likely to develop dementia than those with a stable speed, even after accounting for factors such as smoking, gender and cardiovascular history.
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“Our results suggest that vascular aging may provide meaningful insight into the risk of dementia in the future,” said Nyirenda. “This reinforces the idea that managing vascular health early in life may influence long-term brain health.”
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The team stressed that doctors should tailor risk assessment and treatment strategies to each individual.
More research is needed to confirm these parameters and determine whether altering the pathways of vascular aging reduces the risk of dementia. (Stock)
“You don’t want to wait until the patient starts to show cognitive decline before you take action,” said senior study author Sula Mazimba, MD, associate professor at the University of Virginia.
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The researchers noted that the study could not find causality. Other limitations included the fact that the participants already had hypertension and an elevated cardiovascular risk, meaning the findings may not apply to people without those conditions.
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More research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine whether improving blood vessel health over time can reduce the risk of dementia.
