Off the See-Saw and Onto the Balancing Beam: The Link Between Reduced Blood Pressure & Dementia

In many ways, our blood pressure resembles a see-saw. It can go through the roof during a heated argument or take a dizzying dip when leaping up suddenly from a yoga mat. New research now also shows that our blood pressure may lend important clues about our risk of developing dementia.

In a recent study at the Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands, individuals with orthostatic hypotension (defined as the experience of low blood pressure upon standing up) exhibited an increased long-term risk of dementia. Of the 6000 subjects studied, a 15% increased risk of dementia was found among those with orthostatic hypotension.

To understand the link, think of how you feel when you rise up quickly out of bed. Do you feel dizzy, light-headed, or unstable? These are signs of your brain experiencing reduced blood flow and basically saying, “Hey! Not getting enough oxygen here!” due to low blood pressure. Cases of orthostatic hypotension can range from mild, which usually doesn’t require treatment, to severe, which requires medical attention.

Though researchers state that findings don’t yet determine causality, the study may lead to further examination of whether treating orthostatic hypotension could help our brain in fending off dementia. At the end of the day what we do know is that brain health is served best by getting our blood pressure to stop see-sawing between both the highs and the lows. So try to get your blood pressure off that see-saw and onto the balancing beam instead!