Intensive blood pressure control cuts 7-year dementia risk by 15%, study finds

• Past studies have linked cardiovascular disease to a higher risk of dementia.
• Some heart issues linked to a higher risk for dementia include hypertension, or high blood pressure.
• A new study found that community blood pressure-lowering interventions may help not only reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but also dementia risk.

Past studies have linked cardiovascular disease to a higher risk of dementia — a group of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, that impact a person’s memory and thinking skills.

Some heart issues linked to a higher risk for dementia include coronary heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, atherosclerosis, and hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.

Now, a new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2026 found that community blood pressure-lowering interventions may help not only reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but dementia risk as well.