Carlos Solis
A major new study found that people with low blood pressure face a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Clinically, doctors consider blood pressure below 90/60 mm Hg to be hypotension. For comparison, a clinical reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher usually indicates .
Study details
The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The research team analyzed two datasets: one from the U.K. and one from the U.S. The British cohort had an average age of 57 and was 54% women. The American cohort had an average age of 58 and was 60% women. The U.K. data go back to 2006, and the U.S. data to 2015.
In both datasets, hypertension linked to about a 1.6-fold higher risk of . Participants who had a stroke faced higher odds of Alzheimer’s—about 50% higher in the British sample and 85% higher in the American sample. Heart attacks did not show a statistically significant connection with Alzheimer’s in these analyses.
Elizabeth Marsh, chair of the American Heart Association’s 2026 scientific statement “Brain Health Across the Lifespan,” said clinicians have long known that high blood pressure harms the brain. The new study adds that chronically low blood pressure could also be harmful if it prevents the brain from getting enough oxygen and nutrients.
Lead author Aili Toiley of Michigan Technological University emphasized the role of optimal cardiovascular health as one possible way to prevent Alzheimer’s. She said hypotension receives less attention and fewer studies than hypertension, and she called for more research to uncover the biological mechanisms that link cardiovascular disease with neurodegeneration.
The study authors propose that reduced blood flow in the brain limits the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to brain tissue. That limitation could create conditions that promote accumulation of amyloid-beta and tau proteins—the same proteins commonly found in Alzheimer’s patients.
Treatment and early diagnosis
There is no cure for dementia. New drugs can slow the progression of some forms, and early diagnosis makes interventions more effective and helps families plan care. The Defeating Dementia campaign highlighted alongside the study aims to raise awareness, increase early diagnosis, spur research, and improve care for people with dementia.
These findings suggest clinicians should pay attention not only to high blood pressure but also to very low blood pressure when assessing cardiovascular and brain health. If you are concerned about your blood pressure or memory, talk with your doctor to find out whether you need further tests or treatment adjustments.
Based on material from Daily Mail
