Lowering blood pressure could help with dimentia
12:22 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2008
More than 3 million Americans aged 70 and older have dementia, and additional 5 million Americans have memory impairments that put them at high risk for the disease.
Currently there are no proven methods for avoiding dementia, though studies show that higher education, eating well, and getting regular exercise may reduce the risk.
Now a new study suggests that lowering blood pressure might also cut the odds of dementia.
Researchers compared results of an international study on blood pressure lowering among those over age 80 with similar, placebo-controlled trials.
They found that blood pressure treatment with medications called diuretics and ACE inhibitors reduced dementia odds by 13 per cent.
The primary study of more than 3000 patients was stopped early because it was such a success, blood pressure medications cut the risk of stroke and death among the very elderly.
Now doctors say that improving circulation may also help memory problems, though they're calling for longer and larger studies to confirm the findings.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)