Raised blood pressure heightens risk of dementia, major UCL study finds

Slightly raised blood pressure in middle age could increase the risk of dementia by up to 45 per cent, new research shows.

A study of almost 9,000 civil servants found that 50-year-olds with readings of more than 130/80 had a far greater chance of developing the disease in later life.

Currently, around seven million Britons whose blood pressure exceeds 140/90 mmHg are recommended by GPs to take medication to control it.

But NHS watchdogs are considering bringing the threshold down further, in line with US advice which recommends drugs are taken when levels reach 130/80 mmHg.  Almost half of the adult population in the UK would be eligible for such drugs, if this change was made.

The new study, published in the European Heart Journal, suggests that such levels at mid life are enough to significantly increase dementa risk.

Those with systolic blood pressure of 130mmHg or more at the age of 50 had a 45 per cent greater risk of dementia compared with those with lower levels at the same age.

Researchers said the danger appears to stem from the amount of time people suffered from high blood pressure, with raised levels aged 50 meaning people were exposed to risks for far longer than if levels were raised in their 60s or 70s.

High blood pressure has been linked to mini strokes, damage to the white matter in the brain, and restricted blood supply to the brain, causing mental decline.

The research by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) in Paris and University College London tracked participants in the Whitehall II study, who were aged between 35 and 55 in 1985, for 32 years.

Professor Archana Singh-Manoux, research professor at INSERM and honorary professor at UCL, who led the research, said: “Our work confirms the detrimental effects of midlife hypertension for risk of dementia, as suggested by previous research. It also suggests that at age 50, the risk of dementia may be increased in people who have raised levels of systolic blood pressure below the threshold commonly used to treat hypertension.”

“Our analysis suggests that the importance of mid-life hypertension on brain health is due to the duration of exposure. So we see an increased risk for people with raised blood pressure at age 50, but not 60 or 70, because those with hypertension at age 50 are likely to be ‘exposed’ to this risk for longer.” The average age at which the study participants developed dementia was 75.

Researchers stressed that the research was observational.

Fellow author Dr Jessica Abell said: “There is considerable discussion on the optimal threshold for the diagnosis of hypertension. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that maintaining a healthy blood pressure in middle age is important for both your heart and your brain later in life. Anyone who is concerned about their blood pressure levels should consult their GP.”