Hypertension and Dementia: A Comprehensive Review from The HOPE Asia Network

6/3/2019 12:00:00 AM

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Authors: Yuda Turana, Jeslyn Tengkawan, Yook Chin Chia, Satoshi Hoshide, Jinho Shin, Chen-Huan Chen, Peera Buranakitjaroen, Jennifer Nailes, Sungha Park, Saulat Siddique, Jorge Sison, Arieska Ann Soenarta, Jam Chin Tay, Guru Prasad Sogunuru, Yuqing Zhang, Ji-Guang Wang, Kazuomi Kario, on behalf of the HOPE Asia Network

Publication date: 29 May 2019

J Clin Hypertens

Volume: 00; 1-8

Link:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jch.13558

 

 

Abstract

Approximately 365 million people in Asia were classified as elderly in 2017.  This number  is rising and  expected to reach  approximately  520  million by 2030.  The risk of hypertension  and cognitive  impairment/dementia  increases  with  age.  Recent data also show that the prevalence of hypertension and age-related dementia are rising in Asian countries. Moreover, not many people in Asian countries are aware of the relationship between hypertension and cognitive impairment/dementia. Furthermore, hypertension control is poorer in Asia than in developed countries. Hypertension is known to be a major  risk factor for  damage to target organs,  including  the brain. Decreased cognitive function can indicate the presence of target organ damage in the brain. Twenty-four-hour blood  pressure profiles  and blood  pressure variability have been  associated with cognitive impairment and/or silent cerebral diseases, such as silent cerebral infarction or white matter lesions, which are predisposing conditions for cognitive impairment and dementia. Hypertension that occurs in midlife also affects the incidence of cognitive impairments in later life. Managing and controlling blood pressure could preserve cognitive functions, such as by reducing  the risk of vascular dementia and  by reducing  the global burden of stroke, which also affects cognitive function.