How feeling dizzy can increase your risk of DEMENTIA
PEOPLE who feel dizzy when they stand up in midlife may be at increased risk of dementia 20 years later, a study found.
Those affected are 40 per cent more likely to suffer from the degenerative brain disease and had 15 per cent greater decline in thinking skills.
The dizziness – known as orthostatic hypotension – is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, which reduces blood flow to the brain.
Researchers, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, say the drop in blood flow may cause lasting damage.
Previous research has suggested a connection between orthostatic hypotension and cognitive decline in older people, but this is first time experts have looked at long-term risks.
An estimated 850,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia and there is currently is no treatment or cure for the condition.
Researchers asked 11,503 adults aged 45 to 64 – and with no history of coronary heart disease or stroke – to lie down for 20 minutes.
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They took their blood pressure before and after standing.
Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a drop of 20 mmHg or more in systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg or more in diastolic blood pressure.
Roughly six percent of participants, or 703 people, met the definition.
These participants, who were on average 54 years old upon enrolling in the study, continued to be followed for 20 years or more.
People with orthostatic hypotension at the start of the study were 40 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who did not have it.
They also had 15 percent more cognitive decline.
Study leader Dr Andreea Rawlings said: “Even though these episodes are fleeting, they may have impacts that are long lasting.
“We found that those people who suffered from orthostatic hypotension in middle age were 40 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who did not.
“It’s a significant finding and we need to better understand just what is happening.
“Identifying risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia is important for understanding disease progression, and being able to identify those most at risk gives us possible strategies for prevention and intervention.
“This is one of those factors worth more investigation.”
The findings will be presented at an American Heart Association conference in Portland, United States.
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