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[Blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease]

F Pasquier1, D Leys

  • 1Service de Neurologie et Centre de la mémoire, CHRU, Lille. pasquier@chrulille.fr

Revue Neurologique
|January 23, 1999
PubMed

Insights

High blood pressure may increase Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Managing hypertension early could potentially prevent or delay AD onset, suggesting a link between stroke risk factors and AD.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Gerontology

Context:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis often excludes patients with cerebrovascular lesions.
  • This exclusion may underestimate the connection between stroke risk factors and AD.
  • Arterial hypertension is a primary risk factor for stroke.

Purpose:

  • To review the literature on the relationship between blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease.
  • To explore the potential links between hypertension and cognitive decline.

Summary:

  • Cognitive performance is generally lower in individuals with arterial hypertension.
  • A longitudinal study indicated that Alzheimer's patients (aged 79-85) had higher blood pressure 10-15 years prior.
  • Blood pressure often declines 1-2 years before AD onset.

Impact:

  • The link between hypertension and AD may involve a combination of AD pathology, white matter changes, and cerebrovascular lesions.
  • Early management of arterial hypertension might offer a strategy to prevent or postpone Alzheimer's disease.
  • Ongoing drug trials are investigating the potential benefits of hypertension treatment for AD prevention.

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