For the study, researchers analyzed data from 1,279 people in Argentina between the ages of 21 and 95 with high blood pressure. All data, including blood pressure and cognitive impairment information, were obtained from the Argentine Heart-Brain Study.

The scientists then Cade (Cardiovascular risk factors, aging, and dementia incidence) Dementia risk score for each study participant. The CAIDE score takes into account information about blood pressure, cholesterol levels, obesity, physical activity, age, and education level.

Their analysis showed that 28% of middle-aged adults aged 47 to 53 were at increased risk of dementia.

“Risk factors have the greatest impact during midlife,” says Augusto Vicario, M.D., cardiologist and chief of the Heart-Brain Unit of the Department of Clinical Cardiology at the Heart and Vascular Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina. , corresponding author spoke about this study Today’s medical news.

“In the case of hypertension, high blood pressure in midlife has been shown to increase the risk of developing dementia later in life, but this risk decreases when hypertension begins later. , which occurs because cerebrovascular disease progresses slowly, taking over 10 to 15 years. [to be] Clinically, it is expressed as [a] I have dementia. ”

– Dr. Augusto Vicario

The scientists also found that approximately 40% of all study participants, regardless of age, were at increased risk of developing dementia.

“Given that it is the only intervention proven to stop or slow the progression of cerebrovascular lesions in hypertensive patients, […] Considering that 70% of people with hypertension have uncontrolled or even less controlled blood pressure, it is not surprising that 40% of patients are at increased risk of developing dementia. They are sick and they are not being treated,” Vicario said.

“Physicians should include the brain in the clinical assessment of hypertensive patients to appropriately stratify cardiac and cerebrovascular risk,” he advised.

“A simple and practical method is cognitive assessment using neuropsychological tests.” In a previous publication, “clock drawing test“It is a useful tool that general practitioners can use for this purpose,” Vicario added.

“And secondly, [an] “Because hypertension is a permanent condition, our focus is on early detection of hypertension, proper management with antihypertensive medications, and improved treatment adherence,” he said.

High blood pressure is a known risk factor for dementia, but more research is needed into this link, Vicario said.

“The brain is one of the three target organs for hypertension. [along with the] kidneys and heart. However, its evaluation in routine clinical practice is being avoided,” he explained.

“According to international publications, our research shows that 30% of hypertensive patients have the following symptoms: brain injury There is no damage to the kidneys or heart. In other words, the brains of people with high blood pressure are “brains at risk.” ”

– Dr. Augusto Vicario

“[Because] Dementia is an incurable but preventable disease that is increasing exponentially. Vascular disease is the main cause of over 90% of dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease, and hypertension is the main modifiable vascular risk factor for developing dementia. Brain research is essential. of hypertensive patients,” he added.

After reviewing the study, Dr. Jose Morales, a vascular neurologist and neurointerventional surgeon at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., who was not involved in the study, said: MNT Its most valuable aspect is that it emphasized to patients and primary care physicians that:silent killerVascular risk factors are risk factors for dementia.

“Many patients express concerns about drug side effects, and optimizing blood pressure control can be difficult to negotiate,” Morales said.

“By highlighting the risk of dementia in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, some may motivate patients and primary care physicians to be more proactive in reducing the impact of this risk factor on brain health.” said.

MNT We also spoke about the study with Jennifer Wong, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and medical director of noninvasive cardiology at Memorial Care Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Ta.

“I thought this study made sense,” Wong commented. “High blood pressure has previously been shown to be a risk factor for dementia.” [and] This study nicely shows that the more risk factors you have, calculated using the CAIDE score, the higher your risk of dementia, even in middle age. ”

“Studies like this are useful because they show patients the serious effects of high blood pressure, which some refer to as a silent disease,” she continued.

“Many people have no symptoms if their blood pressure increases at a young age, but the lack of symptoms makes it difficult to understand the significance of these risk factors. It helps show them that there can be consequences,” Wong advised.