Lowering Blood Pressure May Cut Dementia Risk, Study Finds

A new international study has found that aggressively treating high blood pressure can play a key role in lowering the risk of dementia.

The research, published in Nature, revealed that individuals who received intensive blood pressure management saw a 15% reduction in dementia risk compared to those receiving standard care.

The study was led by scientists from China and the United States and included nearly 34,000 adults aged 40 and older with uncontrolled hypertension across rural China.

In contrast, the standard group received the usual level of care without these added supports.

After four years, the benefits of the intensive approach were clear: 668 individuals in the intervention group developed dementia, compared to 734 in the standard care group.

Additionally, the intensive group showed a 16% lower incidence of mild cognitive impairment without dementia.

“This study provides compelling evidence that blood pressure control, especially when combined with supportive coaching and accessible care, can help reduce dementia risk,” said Professor Jiang He, co-author and researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. “Given how widespread uncontrolled hypertension is globally, this kind of intervention could have a meaningful impact on public health.”

The World Health Organization estimates that 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia as of 2021, yet experts emphasize that cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of aging.

However, some experts caution that the study did not evaluate participants’ baseline cognitive function, making it harder to isolate the exact impact of the intervention.

Professor Joanna Wardlaw from the University of Edinburgh noted that the combined effect of medication and lifestyle changes likely contributed to the overall benefit.

Other scientists echoed the importance of this research while calling for further studies in different populations and over longer periods to confirm the results.

“This study adds to the growing evidence that maintaining cardiovascular health—especially managing high blood pressure—can help protect brain function as we age,” said Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. “Still, it’s important to remember that no intervention is foolproof; some individuals receiving treatment still developed dementia.”

Overall, the findings underscore the importance of proactive blood pressure management—not only for heart health, but also for preserving cognitive function in later life.