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Hypertension in pregnancy and in midlife and the risk of dementia: prospective study of 1.3 million UK women

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Midlife hypertension is associated with dementia risk, although uncertainties remain regarding its association with subtypes and regarding the effect of pregnancy-related hypertension on dementia risk.

METHODS: In the Million Women Study, 1,363,457 women (mean age 57) were asked about current treatment for hypertension and hypertension in pregnancy, and were followed for first hospital record with any mention of dementia. Cox regression yielded hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for socio-economic, lifestyle and metabolic factors.

RESULTS: With 84,729 dementia cases over 21 years, midlife hypertension was positively associated with dementia (HR 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.19); higher for vascular dementia (HR 1.50; 1.45-1.56) than Alzheimer’s disease (HR 1.01; 0.98-1.04). Hypertension in pregnancy but not in midlife was only weakly associated with dementia (HR 1.04, 1.01-1.06).

DISCUSSION: Midlife hypertension is a strong risk factor for dementia, largely through vascular dementia. Hypertension during pregnancy does not appear to materially affect dementia risk.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1002/alz.70595

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
Cancer Epidemiology Unit
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-6078-9117
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
Cancer Epidemiology Unit
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
Big Data Institute - NDPH
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
NPEU
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
Cancer Epidemiology Unit
Role:
Author


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/054225q67


Publisher:
Wiley
Journal:
Alzheimer's & Dementia More from this journal
Volume:
21
Issue:
9
Article number:
e70595
Publication date:
2025-09-08
Acceptance date:
2025-07-15
DOI:
EISSN:
1552-5279
ISSN:
1552-5260


Language:
English
Pubs id:
2280665
Local pid:
pubs:2280665
Deposit date:
2025-08-14

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