‘Mind Your Risks’ – The NIH health campaign

Linking high blood pressure and cognitive impairment.

The National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is launching a public health education campaign named ‘Mind your risks’ to create awareness about the link between blood pressure and cognitive impairment.

Recent evidence has shown that uncontrolled high blood pressure may cause stroke but might also lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Taking this into account and understanding that an earlier control of risk factors for stroke in middle age will reduce the risk of cognitive decline later in life; the campaign positions itself to create awareness.

NINDS is partnering with Million Hearts, an initiative by the Health and Human Services Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and also with the Administration for Community Living, and the NIH’s National Institute on Aging and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

“We hope that this campaign will lead people to think about how they can decrease their chances of developing dementia later in life. The Mind Your Risks campaign will offer some concrete prevention steps. Controlling hypertension is at the top of the list,” said Walter J. Koroshetz, M.D. director of the NINDS.