Long‐term blood pressure patterns in midlife and dementia in later life: Findings from the Framingham Heart Study

Abstract INTRODUCTION Long‐term blood pressure (BP) measures, such as visit‐to‐visit BP variability (BPV) and cumulative BP, are strong indicators of cardiovascular risks. This study modeled up to 20 years of BP patterns representative of midlife by using BPV and cumulative BP, then examined their associations with development of dementia in later life. METHODS For 3201 individuals from the Framingham Heart Study, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between long‐term BP patterns during midlife and the development of dementia (ages ≥ 65). RESULTS After adjusting for covariates, every quartile increase in midlife cumulative BP was associated with a sequential increase in the risk of developing dementia (e.g., highest quartile of cumulative systolic blood pressure had approximately 2.5‐fold increased risk of all‐cause dementia). BPV was not significantly associated with dementia. DISCUSSION Findings suggest that cumulative BP over the course of midlife predicts risk of dementia in later life. HIGHLIGHTS Long‐term blood pressure (BP) patterns are strong indicators of vascular risks. Cumulative BP and BP variability (BPV) were used to reflect BP patterns across midlife. High cumulative BP in midlife is associated with increased dementia risk. Visit‐to‐visit BPV was not associated with the onset of dementia.