digiDEM Bayern

Bluthochdruck (Hypertonie)

Normal blood pressure in adults is systolic below 140 mmHg and diastolic below 90 mmHg. High blood pressure is defined as when at least one of these two values is persistently elevated.

Quellen

1.) IQWiG. https://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/wie-wird-der-blutdruck-gemessen.html

2.) World Health Organization. Global report on hypertension: the race against a silent killer. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/hypertension-report

Why is high blood pressure a risk factor for dementia? 
BackgroundHigh blood pressure can affect the brain in various ways and increases the risk of dementia.
Mechanisms:High blood pressure, over time, strains the arteries and leads to thicker, stiffer artery walls.Atherosclerosis), also in the brain. As a result, fewer nutrients and less oxygen reach the brain cells.

High blood pressure is also the strongest risk factor for a Stroke. Strokes cause brain cells to die. This can also lead to the development of vascular dementia.
Quellen

1.) Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, Ames D, Banerjee S, Burns A, Brayne C, Fox NC, Ferri CP, Gitlin LN, Howard R, Kales HC, Kivimäki M, Larson EB, Nakasujja N, Rockwood K, Samus Q, Shirai K, Singh-Manoux A, Schneider LS, Walsh S, Yao Y, Sommerlad A, Mukadam N. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. Lancet. 2024 Aug 10;404(10452):572-628. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0. Epub 2024 Jul 31. PMID: 39096926.

2.) https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/risk-factors-for-dementia

3.) Peters, R., Peters, J., Booth, A., & Anstey, K. J. (2020). Trajectory of blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and incident dementia: systematic review. The British Journal of Psychiatry: The Journal of Mental Science, 216(1), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.156

What can I do?
  • High blood pressure can often be treated by the following Lifestyle changes to get a handle on something
    • Try to lose weight.
    • Ernähren Sie sich gesund und möglichst salzarm.
    • Consume alcohol in moderation only.
    • Give up tobacco.
    • Be physically active.
  • If necessary, blood pressure can also be measured Medications be reduced.
  • The Decision-making assistance From Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) summarizes the main advantages and disadvantages of the different Treatment options clearly summarizes high blood pressure.
  • Blutdruckzielwerte sollten individuell angepasst werden, anstatt einheitlich angewendet zu werden, da sowohl eine unzureichende als auch eine zu intensive Blutdruckkontrolle zu unerwünschten Folgen führen kann.[
Quellen

1.) World Health Organization (WHO). Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO guidelines, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2026. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. ISBN 978-92-4-012355-7

2.) https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/risk-factors-for-dementia

3.) S3-Leitline: (S3_Smoking_Tobacco_Dependence_Screening_Diagnostics_Treatment_2021-03.pdf) 

Test your knowledge:
Which of the following statements describes a mechanism by which high blood pressure can increase the risk of dementia?

2. Which measure is a recommended lifestyle change for lowering blood pressure?

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