Hypertension in middle age is an important factor for dementia risk

• There are about 1.28 billion adults globally living with hypertension, or high blood pressure.
• Recent studies show that hypertension rates in younger adults are on the rise.
• People with high blood pressure are at an increased risk for several chronic conditions, including dementia.
• Researchers from the Cardiovascular Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina report that high blood pressure can also increase dementia risk within the middle-aged population.

There are currently about 1.28 billion adults around the world between the ages of 30 and 79 living with high blood pressure, medically known as hypertension.

Although high blood pressure is normally more pronounced in older adults aged 60 and older, recent studies show that hypertension rates in younger adults ages 20 to 44 are on the rise.

People with high blood pressure are at an increased risk for many medical conditions, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney issues, vision problems, and dementia.

Now, a new study recently published in the journal Hypertension Research found that high blood pressure can also increase dementia risk within the middle-aged population.