Dementia risk signals could lie in simple blood pressure readings, say researchers

Researchers at Georgetown University and the University of Virginia have identified two blood pressure metrics—the pulse pressure-heart rate index and estimated pulse wave velocity—as strong predictors of future dementia risk. Presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session, the study analyzed data from over 8,500 participants in the SPRINT trial. Findings showed that for adults under 65, each one-unit increase in the pulse pressure-heart rate index correlated with a 76% higher risk of dementia. The research suggests that vascular aging patterns, rather than just average blood pressure, are critical indicators for early intervention in cognitive health.