High Blood Pressure Raises Risk of Dementia 

By Adam Cresswell, The Australian 

January 28, 2009

Australia

High blood pressure has been overlooked as a potential trigger for dementia, and many cases of Alzheimer’s and other diseases could be avoided if elderly people managed their heart health better.

That is the message from one of Australia's foremost Alzheimer's researchers, who says evidence in recent years linking high blood pressure to dementia has yet to be taken seriously by doctors or patients. 

Michael Valenzuela, who won an Australian Museum Eureka Prize in 2006 for his work on Alzheimer's, said yesterday that elderly people should have their blood pressure tested by their GP at least once a year. 

If it was too high -- defined as a reading of 140/90 or above -- they should aim to bring it down with improved diet and more exercise. 

"There are some very alarming figures of how common hypertension is in elderly Australians -- up to 70 per cent in the latest very large survey," Dr Valenzuela said. 

"The main message is that the link between hypertension and dementia is very strong, and I think it's been overlooked -- and we need to look at that. 

"By reducing hypertension, we can also reduce the risk of dementia." 

A new book by Dr Valenzuela, subtitled "The latest medical thinking on what you can do to avoid dementia", will be launched next week. 

One of its two core themes is that heart health is inextricably linked to good brain health. As a result, the advice to eat healthily and exercise daily is as valid for mental as for physical wellbeing. 

The book cites a European study of more than 4600 people aged over 60 that found those whose blood pressure was lowered with drug therapy had a 50per cent lower rate of dementia -- both Alzheimer's and another type called vascular dementia, known to be caused by poor blood supply. 

The other theme is based on Dr Valenzuela's own research, which has found dementia risk can be reduced by keeping the brain active. 

Dr Valenzuela won his Eureka Prize after conducting a review of previous research involving 26,000 individuals. 

He showed that people with a history of complex brain activity were 46 per cent less likely to develop dementia. 

Alzheimer's Australia NSW chief executive John Watkins said dementia was a terrible disease and that few Australians realized they could take simple steps to reduce their risk. 

"There hasn't been a lot of research into dementia," the former state deputy premier said. "It's having a major effect on our society, but we don't know what's causing it. 

"There's a level of anxiety about dementia, and a level of stigma. If we can say you can prevent it if you take this step, that’s quite a positive thing to be able to tell people." 

Neurologist Graeme Hankey, head of the stroke unit at Royal Perth Hospital, agreed with Dr Valenzuela's recommendation that elderly people have their blood pressure tested regularly. 

"High blood pressure is so treatable. The problem is you don't know it's causing you harm until it's too late. The message is: go and get it checked," Professor Hankey said. "It's quite easy to lower it, by not adding salt to food, getting your weight down, cutting back on alcohol and eating more fruit and vegetables."

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