ADVERTISINGKeeping blood pressure by medication could significantly reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, according to an important study recently published. Scientists have long known that there is a relationship between arterial hypertension and the cognitive problems of the elderly. But the new study is one of the first great essays that show that Taking medications to lower blood pressure could relieve the risk of dementiawhich affects about 57 million people worldwide.
In this advanced phase clinical trial they participated almost 34,000 people with hypertension from rural areas of China, which were divided into two groups. The participants were 63 years old and had been suffering from hypertension for eight years. Those in charge of the study gave the first half cheap and easily accessible medication to treat hypertension and advised them changes in their lifestyle, such as reducing salt or alcohol consumption and losing weight. The other group received standard attention: its members were told to control their blood pressure simply with those changes in diet and general health, but not with medication.
According to the study, published in the magazine ‘Nature Medicine’, in the following four years The group that received medication better control blood tension and reduced its risk of dementia by 15% and cognitive deterioration in 16%. According to researchers, the results reinforce the idea that maintaining the blood pressure of people in a healthy range could help stop the dementia load. “This is a historical study with a large sample and a solid result,” says Masud Husain, a professor of neurology at the University of Oxford, who did not participate in the investigation. “It is a touch of attention to treat hypertension intensively, not only to protect the heart, but also the brain,” the expert insists.
The results coincide with those of another great clinical trial carried out in the United States that provides similar data. Other studies also indicate that lifestyle decisions can influence dementia development. Last year, the investigators said that address 14 risk factors -Incluid hypertension, smoking and physical inactivity- could delay or prevent almost half of dementia cases.
-But most of the investigations carried out so far had only identified links between dementia and lifestyle, so the new study is important. Their results could change the way of thinking of health professionals about the prevention of dementia, since there is no cure for this disease and Your number is expected to almost triple from here to 2050.
Independent experts point out that it is necessary to continue investigating to understand how other factors, Like geneticsinteract with arterial hypertension to increase the risk of dementia. They also want to know if the results would remain in other groups of people and for longer periods of time.
Nor is it guaranteed that the treatment of hypertension protects against dementia. Some 670 people from the study who received additional medical care (4.59%) developed the disease. In addition, the study has other limitations. Although people who had already diagnosed dementia were not included, researchers did not check the cognitive function of people before starting the experiment.
Even so, experts claim that the results justify that the blood pressure control As it ages, which could be especially useful in areas with less access to advanced medical care. “We have an indication of something that reduces the risk of dementia and that can be applied to a large number of people in their communities with a low cost,” says Atticus Hainsworth, a professor of cerebrovascular diseases at St. George de London University, which did not participate in the study. Since the results of the Chinese study were similar to those of the American essay, “these concordant findings can promote changes in health policy guidelines,” he concludes.
