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NIH launches public health campaign on link between hypertension, cognition
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The NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has launched Mind Your Risks, a public health education campaign designed to raise awareness about how controlling risk factors for stroke in middle age can reduce the risk for cognitive decline later in life, according to a press release.
“We hope that this campaign will lead people to think about how they can decrease their chances of developing dementia later in life,” Walter J. Koroshetz, MD, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, said in a press release. “The Mind Your Risks campaign will offer some concrete prevention steps. Controlling hypertension is at the top of the list.”
The campaign launched in January, starting with public service advertisements in malls and magazines in the “Stroke Belt” states. The campaign will go nationwide in the spring, according to information from the NIH. The key message is: “Dementia and stroke are more likely to affect people with high blood pressure. Don’t take necessary risks. Keep your blood pressure under control. Learn more at MindYourRisks.nih.gov.”
Data from previous epidemiologic studies demonstrate a positive association between high BP and cognitive impairment. However, there is a lack of controlled clinical data on this link. According to guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, there is reasonable evidence that in middle-aged and elderly adults lowering BP can reduce risk for later-life dementia.
The lead partner for the campaign is the Million Hearts Initiative group.
“The Mind Your Risks campaign combines powerful messages, resources and research findings that illustrate just how important it is for all of us to get — and keep — our blood pressure under safe control. Million Hearts is a strong supporter of this well-designed effort,” Janet S. Wright, MD, FACC, executive director of the Million Hearts Initiative, told Cardiology Today. – by David Quaile
Reference:
Mind Your Risks, mindyourrisks.nih.gov.