The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of dementia in old age

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People with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, experience faster cognitive decline than people with normal levels.

A third of all Britons are now thought to have high blood pressure, although many do not realize it. If left untreated, it can affect your health because it can affect your organs. This can eventually lead to complications such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease.

It has also previously been linked to vascular dementia – one of the most common types of the condition – as it is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.

People with hypertension are at risk of a more rapid decline in their ability to think, make decisions, and remember information. Researchers have tracked the link between high blood pressure and declining brain function for years. To do this, they analyzed data from six existing studies involving more than 24,500 participants, none of whom had a stroke or dementia at the time of enrolment. The results show that high blood pressure causes a rapid decline in cognitive function, and that hypertension medication slows the rate of this decline.

A general guideline for high blood pressure is 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher (or 150/90 mm Hg or higher if you are over 80 years old).

Risk factors for developing high blood pressure include:

• Not getting enough fruits and vegetables
• Drinking too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeinated beverages)
• Smoking
• Age over 65
• Having a relative with high blood pressure
• Living in a disadvantaged area