Blood Pressure Drugs Help Older Minds Stay Young

Ongoing treatment kept dementia at bay, researchers say

THURSDAY, April 6, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term treatment of high blood pressure may help keep the mind sharp in old age, a new study finds.

"For every year of hypertension treatment, there is increased protection against dementia," study lead author Rita Peila, an epidemiologist at the U.S. National Institute on Aging, said in a prepared statement.

"Hypertension treatment in the very old -- those aged 80 and older -- protects against stroke, heart disease and heart failure, and now we see that there is no harm -- and perhaps a benefit -- on cognitive function," Peila said.

Her team published the findings in the latest issue of the journal Stroke.

Peila and her colleagues analyzed data on 848 Japanese-American men who had mid-life high blood pressure but were free of dementia at age 77, on average.

Of these men, 142 had never been treated for their high blood pressure and 706 were being treated at age 77. Of those being treated, 195 had been on medication for less than five years, 149 had been on medication for five to 12 years and 362 had been on medication for more than 12 years.

After their initial evaluation at age 77, the men were checked again three and six years later.

Overall, each year of treatment for high blood pressure reduced the risk of developing dementia during the follow-up period by about three percent. Compared to the men who had never been treated for their high blood pressure, the risk of dementia among the men who were treated was:

  • 6 percent lower in those treated less than five years,
  • 48 percent lower in those treated from five to 12 years,
  • 60 percent lower in those treated more than 12 years -- a risk similar to that of men with normal blood pressure.

"We found protection against both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. There is more and more recognition that there is a vascular component to Alzheimer's disease," Peila said.

More information

The American Heart Association has more about high blood pressure.

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