Drop in blood pressure after standing Up, as a warning sign for dementia

Who is the Stand up, often feel dizzy, may develop an increased risk of dementia. Dizziness when standing Up is often the result of a sudden drop in blood pressure, which is also a risk for dementia, as a recent study shows.

Researchers from the American Academy of Neurology found a link between a constant feeling of dizziness when standing Up, and increased risk for dementia. The results of the research were presented in the journal “Neurology”.

Orthostatic Hypotension

People feel when standing Up feel dizzy or light-headed, often suffer from a so-called orthostatic hypotension. The dizziness is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing Up.

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure

It seems to be, however, a difference whether the systolic or diastolic blood pressure decreases. The systolic blood pressure is the first and higher number in blood pressure measurement. The diastolic blood pressure is displayed by the second and lower value.

The current study found the associated with dementia only in people with a decrease in the systolic blood pressure but not for people to observe in which just a drop in diastolic blood pressure or in blood pressure as a whole. A concern waste was if the systolic blood pressure after getting Up from a seated Position decreases by at least 15 mmHg.

“The blood pressure of people moving from Sitting to Standing, should be monitored,” suggests study author Laure Rouch. The control of such blood pressure waste could be a promising way to impending limitations on the Thinking and memory to uncover skills

The expiration of the study

In the study, 2,131 people took part in an average age of 73 years. At the time of enrollment, the Participants were not suffering from dementia. Your blood pressure values were measured at the beginning of the study and then one, three, and five years later. Overall, 15 percent had orthostatic hypotension – nine percent of them have a systolic orthostatic hypotension and six percent, the diastolic orthostatic hypotension.

In the course of the twelve-year study period, 22 percent of the Participants (462 people) developed dementia. In people with systolic orthostatic hypotension is the probability of developing dementia was 40 percent higher than people who did not suffer from this disease. 50 of 192 persons with systolic orthostatic hypotension (26 percent) developed dementia, compared with 412 the 1.939 persons without this disease (21 percent).

Limitation of the study

Research Manager Rouch stressed that the investigation is an observation study, which shows neither cause nor effect. It reveals only a correlation between the blood pressure values and the development of dementia. In addition, the diagnosis of dementia, no distinction is made between Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. (vb)

Read also: Alzheimer’s: These factors suggest that already at a young age on dementia.

Authors and source of information