Mental Health

Sudden Blood Pressure Drops May Increase Risk of Dementia [VIDEO]

By Mark Miller | Update Date: Mar 13, 2017 06:35 AM EDT

A new research finds the long-term link between sudden drops in blood pressure during the middle period in an adult's life and the risk of developing dementia later in life. This may also indicate serious cognitive decline as they reach old age.

The Medical News Today reveals that dementia affects tens of millions of people in the United States. It is estimated that in three US elders, one dies due to a form of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and ranks in the sixth spot of the leading cause of deaths in the United States.

The study was conducted by experts at the Johns Hopkin Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD and was presented at the American Heart's Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle 2017 Scientific Sessions hosted in Portland Oregon. Low blood pressure, constant and sudden drop may cause dizziness, nausea, fainting, and fatigue. Temporary but a sudden drop in blood pressure may also stop the necessary blood flow from reaching the brain.

Although marijuana is believed to be a potential drug that holds the key to treating Alzheimer disease and other forms of dementia, laws and limitations hinder the progress of medical research, the Independent UK reports. Cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are found to be helpful in removing dementia proteins from the brain cells. However, further studies are quite slow due to the restrictions of marijuana use.

A total of 11,503 patients who had no history of heart disease were included in the study. Six percent of the participants or 703 individuals met the OP criteria and were followed and observed for two decades. It was further identified that 40 percent higher risk of developing dementia were observed in the test subjects compare to their OP-free counterparts. Fifteen percent of cognitive decline were also observed in the patients with OP.

Orthostatic hypotension or OP may cause serious damage to the body. This sudden but temporary drop in temperature is often linked to cognitive impairment in the elderly. The research examined clinical data in the Department of Epidemiology at the Bloomberg School to be able to identify the correlations between dementia and OP.

 

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