Silent Strokes Cause Dementia

"Silent strokes, ( strokes that don't result in any noticeable symptoms but cause brain damage) are common in people over 60, and especially in those with high blood pressure, according to a study published in the July 28, 2009, print issue of Neurology®.

These strokes are not truly silent, because they have been linked to memory and thinking problems and are a possible cause of a type of dementia," said study author Perminder Sachdev PhD, of the University of New South Wales, Sydney,Australia. "High blood pressure is very treatable, so this may be a strong target for preventing vascular disease." Apparently people with high blood pressure were 60 percent more likely to have silent strokes than those with normal blood pressure.

Many people thought I was crazy for suggesting that my mom's high blood pressure was the cause for her dementia. A CAT scan proved the multi-infarct strokes. Of course, her dementia got worse when she started forgetting to take her high blood pressure pills. So please, if you have high blood pressure, get plenty of exercise and take your high blood pressure medicine. To find out more about dementia in an aging parent click here: