High blood pressure is a common condition that may increase a person’s chances of developing dementia. Research is ongoing about the best ways to decrease the risk of dementia. A recent study found that among people with high blood pressure, drinking one-half to one cup of coffee or four to five cups of tea daily was associated with some of the lowest dementia risk. Researchers observed that people with high blood pressure may be able to decrease their risk of developing dementia by consuming a certain amount of coffee or tea daily. While more data is required, the results highlight another potential protective action step that may benefit people with high blood pressure.
People with high blood pressure can be at an increased risk for dementia. Abnormal blood pressure is linked to about 11-20% of dementia cases. Hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels in the brain, leading to reduced cerebral perfusion and microvascular damage, which contributes to cognitive decline. Researchers examined the relationship between drinking coffee and tea and dementia risk using data from over 453,000 participants. The study found that individuals with high blood pressure still had a greater risk for all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia than people without high blood pressure.
The study identified a J-shaped relationship between coffee consumption and all-cause dementia among participants with high blood pressure. Participants who consumed one-half to one cup of coffee daily had the lowest chances of developing all-cause dementia. The researchers also found a U-shaped association between drinking tea and risk for all-cause dementia among participants with high blood pressure. Participants who consumed four to five cups of tea daily had the lowest risk for all-cause dementia. The researchers found no association between drinking tea or coffee and dementia risk among participants without high blood pressure.
The type of coffee consumed appeared to have an effect on dementia risk, with ground coffee associated with the lowest risk for all-cause and vascular dementia compared to decaf coffee. The researchers also found a U-shaped association between caffeine intake and risk for vascular and all-cause dementia among participants with high blood pressure. Consuming four to five cups of coffee and six or more cups of tea daily was associated with the lowest chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause dementia among people with high blood pressure.
It is important to note that while a low-moderate amount of coffee intake decreased the risk of dementia, consuming six or more cups a day appeared to increase the risk, likely due to excessive caffeine intake. Therefore, enjoying coffee and tea in moderation may have beneficial effects on reducing the risk of dementia. However, more research is needed to establish a causal relationship between caffeine consumption and dementia risk before changes can be made to clinical practice. In the meantime, addressing vascular risk factors, such as hypertension, remains essential in dementia prevention.
