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Low untreated systolic blood pressure over 18 years is associated with survival free of dementia age 90+
Author(s) -
Kuller Lewis H.,
Snitz Beth E.,
Hughes Timothy M.,
Chang Yuefang,
Cohen Ann D.,
Mathis Chester A.,
Aizenstein Howard J.,
Lopez Oscar L.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.12493
Subject(s) - dementia , blood pressure , medicine , cardiology , cognitive decline , multivariate analysis , disease
We hypothesized that lower untreated systolic blood pressure (SBP) would be associated with a lower risk of dementia and death up to age 95. Methods SBP measured between 2000 and 2006 was evaluated in relationship to dementia risk and brain biomarkers from 2009‐2020 (n = 177) in the Gingko Evaluation of Memory Study (GEMS), mean age 95 in 2020. Participants had measurements of brain amyloid beta (Aβ) and repeat clinical‐cognitive evaluations every 6 months. Results By 2020, only 9 of 177 patients (5%) were alive and cognitively unimpaired (CU). Mean SBP from 2000 to 2006 was 120 mm Hg for nine alive/CU, 125 mm Hg for alive/mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 130 mm Hg for alive/dementia ( P = .03). The amount of Aβ was directly related to SBP levels. In multivariate analysis, Aβ+ in 2009 and thinner cortex were significant predictors of dementia. Excluding Aβ, SBP became a significant predictor of dementia. Discussion Low SBP untreated by antihypertensive medications was associated with significant decreased risk of dementia and less Aβ.