Blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease: A review of meta-analysis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder of unknown cause, resulting in the death of brain cells. Identifying some of the modifiable risk factors for AD could be crucial for primary prevention and could lead to a reduction in the incidence of AD.

This study aimed to perform a meta-meta-analysis of studies in order to assess the effect of blood pressure (BP) on the diagnosis of AD.

The search was restricted to meta-analyses assessing high systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) and AD. We applied the PRISMA guidelines.

A total of 214 studies were identified from major databases. Finally, five meta-analyses (52 studies) were analyzed in this review. Results confirm that high SBP is associated with AD. The exploration of parameters (sex, age, study design, region, and BP measurements) shows that only region significantly moderates the relationship between BP and AD. Asian people are those whose SBP levels >140 mmHg are associated with AD. BP is associated with AD in both people aged ≤65 years and those aged ≥65 years and in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. In the case of DBP, only women are at a higher risk of AD, particularly when its levels are >90.

SBP is associated with both cerebrovascular disease and AD. Therefore, future studies should use other uncontrolled factors, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and stroke, to explain the relationship between SBP and AD.