Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the precursor stage to serious dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment. These problems are more substantial than the ordinary normal age-related mental changes. It’s well known that if you have high blood pressure, it is very beneficial to your heart to lower it, perhaps dramatically, to a systolic blood pressure less than 120 mmHg. A new study shows that such lowering can also measurably reduce the risk of MCI.

Here are six media articles on the work:

Lowering blood pressure may help cut risk of early dementia, study finds

Lowering blood pressure could cut risk factor for dementia

Mild cognitive impairment: Reducing blood pressure can lower risk

Treating high blood pressure could reduce risk of memory issues, study finds

Study Offers Hint of Hope for Staving Off Dementia in Some People

Major New Study Finds Lowering Blood Pressure Can Prevent Cognitive Decline, but Questions Remain

Here is the National Institutes of Health press release on the study:

Does intensive blood pressure control reduce dementia?

Here is a link to the study itself:

Effect of Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Control on Probable Dementia

All links have been added to Alzheimer’s > Amelioration/Prevention and Alzheimer’s > Risk Factors.