News

Study links high blood pressure to dementia in older women

January 15, 2010

New research suggests that older women with high blood pressure may be at higher risk for developing dementia.

The researchers used data from 1,403 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), which involved a subgroup of women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study. The participants were all over 65 years old, and underwent annual testing that included measuring blood pressure and cognitive abilities. They also had brain MRIs after eight years of followup.

The results of the MRIs indicate that those who had high blood pressure upon entering the study eight years earlier, were significantly more likely to have higher numbers of white matter lesions (altered or damaged areas of brain tissue). These lesions are associated with developing dementia later in life.

High blood pressure was defined as 140/90 or higher (140 or greater systolic, or 90 or greater diastolic).

These findings suggest that maintaining normal blood pressure (120/80 or lower) might reduce dementia risk in older women. Elevated blood pressure can damage the delicate blood vessels in the brain’s white matter, leading to the white matter lesions that have been linked to dementia.

The study was published online in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension on Dec. 16, 2009.

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