A CARDIOVASCULAR condition affecting millions of Brits could be the biggest risk factor for developing dementia, scientists have revealed. Persistent high blood pressure - also known as hypertension - puts extra strain on your arteries and your heart, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks . According to UCL researchers, the condition could make you more likely to develop memory-robbing dementia.
Up to one in three adults in the UK have high blood pressure, according to Blood Pressure UK . Dementia risk factors associated with heart health may have increased over time, according to the study, compared with factors such as smoking and having less education. The findings suggest that boosting cardiovascular health may help to prevent future cases of dementia.
An estimated 944,000 people in the UK live with dementia and data suggests more than half of the adult population knows someone who has been diagnosed with a form of the disease. In the new study, UCL researchers analysed 27 papers, involving people with dementia across the world with data collected between 1947 and 2015. Using the data, they calculated the biggest risk factors associated with developing dementia over time.
The condition usually develops because of a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, education and smoking. The team found that obesity and diabetes rates have increased over time, as has their contribution to dementia risk. But having less.
