Hypertension, often linked to heart attack and stroke, now carries a surprising consequence for brain health, according to a groundbreaking new study.
Researchers at First Hospital of China Medical University discovered that “intensive blood pressure control” resulted in a 15% reduced dementia risk and a 16% lowered risk of cognitive impairment.
The large randomized trial analyzed 33,995 individuals from rural China, all aged 40 or older, who struggled with “uncontrolled hypertension.”
How the Study Was Conducted
Participants were split into two distinct groups. One group received “usual care,” while the other worked with “trained non-physician community healthcare providers” who prescribed “titrated antihypertensive medications.”
Those under intensive management achieved a systolic blood pressure of <130 mm Hg and a diastolic goal of <80 mm Hg, based on findings published in Nature Medicine.
Importantly, “the primary outcome of all-cause dementia was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the usual care group,” the researchers stated.
Additionally, patients in the intervention group experienced fewer “serious adverse events,” offering even more encouragement for aggressive blood pressure management.
First-of-Its-Kind Evidence Linking Blood Pressure and Dementia
“This was one of the first large-scale, randomized, controlled effectiveness trials to demonstrate a ‘significant reduction in all-cause dementia associated with lowering blood pressure,'” the researchers concluded.
Still, limitations surfaced. The study lacked baseline and follow-up cognitive assessments, meaning more work remains to firmly establish long-term brain benefits.
Expert Reactions: Hope for Future Dementia Prevention?
Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, described the findings as an “intriguing approach” for tackling dementia in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
“Unlike studies performed in the United States, this study employed non-physicians to significantly reduce blood pressure in rural China through a ‘cluster’ blinding method,” Dr. Serwer, unaffiliated with the research, said.
He added that future studies should ideally include baseline cognitive testing and efforts to pinpoint the prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia within these rural communities.
Blood Pressure Medications Offer More Than Just Heart Benefits
Interestingly, the study primarily used calcium channel blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers to lower blood pressure, Dr. Serwer noted.
“These commonly prescribed medications have been independently associated with a reduced risk of dementia, irrespective of the magnitude of blood pressure reduction they achieve,” he said.
“This raises the possibility that the lower rates of dementia observed may be attributed to other beneficial effects of the medications rather than solely to blood pressure reduction.”
Such insight invites deeper exploration into how cardiovascular therapies could play a pivotal role in protecting the brain, not just the heart.
Why Managing Blood Pressure Could Save More Than Your Heart
“This was one of the first large-scale, randomized, controlled effectiveness trials to demonstrate a ‘significant reduction in all-cause dementia associated with lowering blood pressure,'” the researchers emphasized again.
To solidify these findings, Dr. Serwer stressed that future investigations should “include baseline cognitive assessments of the patients and identify the prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia within the communities.”
Ultimately,
“the most significant takeaway from this study is the profound importance of addressing blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and sedentary lifestyles,” Dr. Serwer urged.
“By prioritizing these factors, we not only aim to prevent heart attacks and strokes, but also strive to enhance overall quality of life.”
This important study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Society of Cardiology Foundation, and the Science and Technology Program of Liaoning Province, China.
