The results, presented at the Alzheimer's Association International
Conference in Chicago, offer some of the first tangible steps
individuals can take to reduce their risk for dementia, experts
said.
The results come from a landmark 2015 trial dubbed SPRINT involving
of more than 9,300 hypertension patients which showed significant
cardiovascular benefits in people whose systolic blood pressure -
the top number in a blood pressure reading - was lowered
aggressively to below 120, compared to a higher target of under 140.
The Sprint MIND study looked specifically at the implications of
aggressive blood pressure lowering on symptoms of dementia from any
cause, and mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, a precursor to
dementia.
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It found that people whose blood pressure was lowered to below 120
had a 19 percent lower rate of new cases of mild cognitive
impairment and a 15 percent reduction in MCI and dementia combined.
The takeaway of the study, said Dr. Keith Fargo, director of
scientific and outreach programs at the Alzheimer's Association, is
"see your doctor and know your numbers," and if individuals have
hypertension, get it treated.
"Not only do we already know that it reduces the risk for death due
to stroke and heart attacks but we now know it supports healthy
brain aging," he said in an interview.
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Although the study showed effects on MCI and combined dementia plus
MCI, it did not show an overall reduction in dementia alone, at
least not yet.
Fargo said it takes longer for people to develop dementia, but as
the study continues, he expects more people treated to the higher
target of 140 will develop dementia.
"Since it's too early, too few people have developed dementia," he
said.
The study looked at all causes of dementia, including Alzheimer's,
the most common form marked by clumps of amyloid in the brain, and
vascular dementia, which is caused by blocked blood flow to the
brain.
Fargo said the result most likely affects the impact of blood
pressure lowering on vascular dementia but noted that many people
with Alzheimer's also have some degree of vascular disease, and
reducing the total dementia risk could delay the onset of memory
problems.
(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bill Trott)
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