Diabetes, High Blood Pressure Increases Risk Of Dementia

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two major lifestyle diseases and have been rightfully termed as silent killers.

You might have heard of diabetes and high blood pressure increasing the risk of heart problem or renal failure, but a recent research have found that those suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure in the middle age are at a higher risk of developing dementia at a later stage.

A study, published in JAMA Neurology recently have stated this startling fact. During the study the team had taken into consideration around 15,744 people, aged 45-64 years and analysed them from 1987-1989.

So as per the report published after about 25 years later, 1,516 people had been diagnosed with dementia.

Meanwhile, the researchers also discovered a link between dementia and pre-hypertension, a condition in which blood pressure levels are higher than normal. Diabetes, hypertension, and pre-hypertension increased the chances of dementia for participants.

In addition to this, smoking cigarettes also increased the chances of dementia, as per the research.

However in yet another study, researchers have found that the presence of one or more vascular risk factors during midlife was associated with higher levels of beta amyloid, a protein that often accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.