What should you know about high blood pressure and dementia?

Persistent pressure can stiffen or injure blood vessels, reducing their ability to deliver blood efficiently. This can contribute to stroke and other vascular brain injury, which may affect memory, attention or planning. High blood pressure is one modifiable factor among many; a diagnosis of hypertension does not mean a person has dementia.

Other vascular conditions, including [obesity](/conditions/obesity/), [obstructive sleep apnoea](/conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnoea/) and [chronic kidney disease](/conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/), may need review. Gradual memory change is different from sudden confusion or new neurological loss.

Attend blood-pressure reviews, take prescribed treatment as directed, stay physically active within your abilities, avoid smoking and choose a balanced eating pattern. Sleep quality, weight, alcohol intake and diabetes risk also deserve attention. Do not lower blood pressure abruptly or change medicines because of memory concerns without medical guidance.

If memory or daily functioning is changing, arrange an assessment that considers medicines, mood, sleep, hearing, neurological signs and vascular history. A [hypertension](/conditions/hypertension/) review can sit alongside this assessment.

Call emergency services for sudden facial drooping, one-sided weakness, new speech difficulty, sudden vision loss, severe unexplained headache or abrupt confusion. These may indicate a [stroke](/conditions/stroke/) or [transient ischaemic attack](/conditions/transient-ischaemic-attack/) and need immediate assessment.

Ask about your blood-pressure target, home monitoring technique, medicine effects, sleep-apnoea symptoms and whether memory changes need formal assessment. Discuss prior [angina](/conditions/angina/), heart or kidney problems and any episodes of sudden neurological symptoms.