As I continue my muscle-building phase for the bodybuilding competition, I’ve made it a habit to check my blood pressure regularly. This proactive approach to health is something we can all adopt.

Now, I have one more reason to dodge high blood pressure.

A new study recently published online in Neurology discovered this:

People ages 60 and above with untreated high blood pressure may be at greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

I’ll review this article before giving you some tips to reduce dementia risk.

Alzheimer’s Disease

It’s common.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects nearly 7 million people in the U.S. alone, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

AD is the most common dementia type, comprising up to 80 percent of cases.

While the greatest risk factor is increasing age, it’s important to remember that Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging.

This means that there are steps we can take to reduce our risk.

AD is known as younger-onset Alzheimer’s if it affects an individual under 65.

I hope never to experience dementia symptoms, including memory and cognition, that are sufficiently bad enough to interfere with my daily life.

Hypertension and Dementia

A new study examined how untreated high blood pressure (hypertension) affects an individual’s risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

The study examined how untreated high blood pressure affects people’s risk of this very common disease.

For this meta-analysis (that had individual patient data), researchers analyzed data from 14 nations.

Researchers analyzed data from over 31,000 individuals. The study participants had an average age of 72.

During an average follow-up of four years, just over 1,400 developed Alzheimer’s disease.

Study Results

After adjusting for factors such as blood pressure readings, a diagnosis of hypertension, and high blood pressure medication use, researchers discovered the following:

• Nine percent were not treating their high blood pressure
• 51 percent were using blood pressure medicines
• 36 percent did not have high blood pressure
• 4 percent were unsure of their blood pressure status

After adjusting for factors that might influence findings, the study authors report this:

Untreated high blood pressure was associated with a 1.36 times increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (compared to those without high blood pressure).

And this:

Those with untreated high blood pressure had a 1.42 times increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (compared with those treating their high blood pressure with medications).

How Might Hypertension Increase Dementia Risk?

Simply put, a healthy heart means a healthy brain.

When our blood pressure is high, it can cause damage to the blood vessels, including those in the brain.

This damage can result in an inadequate brain blood supply, leading to diminished functioning.

On another note, high blood pressure can increase the risk for another form of dementia, vascular dementia.

In summary, treating high blood pressure (that typically develops as we age) may be vital to reducing your dementia risk.

Tactics to Reduce Your Dementia Risk

Alzheimer’s disease has many potential contributing risks.

Here are the factors that I try to optimize to lower my risk of ever suffering from dementia.

• Heart health. As I stated earlier, heart health is brain health. I focus on my blood pressure, blood sugar (avoiding type 2 diabetes), and cholesterol.
• Healthy diet. I try to adhere to a Mediterranean-style diet. I consume many anti-oxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and lower saturated fats.
• Physical activity. I get plenty of physical activity, which helps keep my blood pressure low while optimizing my brain health.
• Social engagement. I work to keep strong social ties with others.
• Cognitive stimulation. I look forward to working through my 60s and staying engaged in other stimulating activities (including reading, writing, learning the Japanese language, and playing classical piano music).

Summary

The new study reports that untreated high blood pressure was linked to a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

This finding could significantly impact our daily lives and health decisions.

High blood pressure can damage our blood vessels, leading to diminished blood flow to the brain.

Medicines and lifestyle changes — including eating a balanced diet, getting physical activity, and managing stress — can help those with high blood pressure, not smoking, and avoiding excess alcohol consumption.