Lancet: hypertension may be a major avoidable risk factor for dementia

 Heart and vascular diseases are becoming the most important risk factors for dementia. This was shown by a study published in The Lancet Public Health.

Scientists analyzed data from 27 studies involving people with dementia from all over the world. The observations were made between 1947 and 2015.

Traditional risk factors for dementia (poor education and smoking) have become less common, the analysis showed. This is due to increased access to education, decreased social acceptance of smoking and the rising cost of cigarettes.

At the same time, the contribution of obesity, diabetes and hypertension increased. In most of the studies reviewed, hypertension emerged as the most important risk factor for dementia.

Other studies have shown that eliminating risk factors can prevent about 40% of dementia cases. Researchers believe that we need to be more proactive in combating cardiovascular disease. They also noted that they used data collected through 2015. Trends may have changed since then. Also, all of the studies analyzed in the new study were conducted in 2015 and earlier, so may not reflect how trends may have changed since then.

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