Lowering blood pressure by medication and/or lifestyle changes did not significantly reduce the risk of incident all-cause dementia compared to control (RR 0.93).
Meta-Analysis (n=57,682)
Effect estimate: RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.84-1.02)
Absolute Event Rate: 3.6% vs 3.8%
Our objective was to study the preventive effect of lowering blood pressure (BP) by medication and/or lifestyle changes on incident all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In this systematic review, we included randomized controlled trials with a BP-lowering intervention. Of the nine included trials, seven assessed the effect of antihypertensive medication and two of a lifestyle or combined intervention. In the intervention arm, 1041 out of 29 029 (3.6%) participants were diagnosed with dementia compared with 1090 out of 28 653 (3.8%) controls during a median follow-up of 3.9 years range 2–10, resulting in a pooled risk ratio of 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.84–1.02; I2 16%). Three trials specified dementia subtypes, with no significant effect on Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia. To conclude, lowering BP by medication and/or lifestyle changes did not lead to a significantly reduced risk of dementia. This appeared independent of dementia subtype.
Middelaar et al. (Thu,) conducted a meta-analysis in Dementia (n=57,682). Blood pressure-lowering interventions (medication and/or lifestyle changes) vs. Control (placebo, standard care, or diabetes support) was evaluated on Incident all-cause dementia (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.84-1.02). Lowering blood pressure by medication and/or lifestyle changes did not significantly reduce the risk of incident all-cause dementia compared to control (RR 0.93).