High blood pressure, if left untreated, increases the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia

[메디컬투데이=최재백 기자] It was found that patients who did not receive treatment for high blood pressure were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than patients who received or received treatment.

A study published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology ‘Neurology’ found that patients who were not treated for high blood pressure were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than patients who were or were receiving treatment.

It is estimated that around 46% of adults worldwide do not know they have high blood pressure, and that only 21% of patients with high blood pressure receive appropriate treatment. .

The research team analyzed data from more than 31,000 participants enrolled in 14 studies examining cognitive changes and depression diagnoses from 14 countries, including Australia, the United States, Spain and Japan. The average age of the participants was 72 years old.

Among all participants, 9% had ‘untreated high blood pressure’, 51% had ‘currently treated high blood pressure’, 36% had no high blood pressure, and 4% were unsure if they had high blood pressure.

As a result of looking at the relationship between blood pressure and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia after controlling for variables such as gender, age, and level of education, the research team found that patients with ‘untreated high blood pressure’ at 36% higher risk. of developing Alzheimer’s disease than participants without high blood pressure He said it was high.

In addition, it was added that patients with ‘untreated high blood pressure’ had a 42% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than patients with ‘currently treated high blood pressure’.

They emphasized the importance of managing high blood pressure, saying that the difference in risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease depended on whether high blood pressure was treated more than expected.

At the same time, regarding patients with ‘current treatment for high blood pressure’ having a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than patients with no history of high blood pressure, it was reported that caution should be exercised in interpreting this as it was not. a statistically significant difference.

The research team pointed out that as people age, both patients and medical staff may be negligent in managing chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, especially in asymptomatic cases such as hypertension. high blood pressure.

They said that medical staff must provide accurate and reliable information to patients about the risks and side effects of taking antihypertensive medications, compared to the risks of not taking them.

Experts explained that although they were aware that high blood pressure was a known risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and a risk factor for vascular depression, the results of this meta-analysis confirmed the link between untreated high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease. .

They advised that it is not only important to treat high blood pressure, but we also need to pay attention to the negative effects of high blood pressure on various organs of the body.

Medical Today Reporter Jaebaek Choi ([email protected])

[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]