Lifestyle
Blood Pressure Insights: How It May Signal Future Cognitive Health

Regular exercise is often touted as a key strategy in staving off cognitive decline. However, recent research suggests that monitoring and managing your blood pressure could also play a crucial role in maintaining cognitive health, especially for those with hypertension.
A study published in the journal Neurology highlights the potential benefits of intensive blood pressure management for adults with high cardiovascular risk. The study found that such management could significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Uncontrolled hypertension is known to lead to several serious health issues, including heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. It can also cause changes in memory and cognitive function. High cardiovascular risk, on the other hand, refers to the likelihood of experiencing a cardiac event.
Jeff Williamson, MD, a study author, emphasized the importance of this approach by stating,
“Our study shows that intensive blood pressure control is an important strategy in the prevention of cognitive impairment, a major cause of loss of independence in older adults.”
The study’s findings suggest that less than four years of aggressive blood pressure management can have lasting positive effects on cognitive function, particularly memory. Additionally, maintaining healthy blood pressure levels can help mitigate the risk of other cardiac issues.
The research was based on a “prespecified secondary analysis” of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial. In this trial, 9,361 participants aged 50 or older were assigned different systolic blood pressure goals. Participants aiming for a target of less than 120 mm Hg were placed in the “intensive treatment” group, whereas those with a goal of less than 140 mm Hg received “standard treatment.”
Cognitive assessments were conducted over a median period of seven years. Participants were classified into three categories based on their cognitive status: no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and probable dementia.
The study revealed that participants in the intensive management group experienced a lower rate of cognitive decline in just 3.5 years compared to their peers.
“248 participants of the intensive treatment group were adjudicated with probable dementia, compared with 293 participants in the standard treatment group,” the study’s authors noted.
“The rate of both mild cognitive impairment and a composite of MCI [mild cognitive impairment] or probable dementia was lower with intensive treatment.”
While these findings underscore the dual benefits of blood pressure management for both physical and cognitive health, the study does have limitations. It did not include young adults, despite the American Heart Association’s estimate that 23 percent of individuals aged 18 to 39 have hypertension.
Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between high cardiovascular risk and cognitive impairment. Nonetheless, this study reinforces the importance of keeping blood pressure in check for overall well-being.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Marilyn Samuels
February 2, 2025 at 7:50 am
Very informative~more studies are definitely needed. Thank you for this article