New blood pressure guidelines stress early control

Managing hypertension may lower dementia risk

A new 2025 high blood pressure guideline from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) calls for earlier prevention and tighter control of hypertension to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease — and even dementia.

According to the updated recommendations, intensive blood pressure management can reduce the risk of dementia by 12 to 19%.

That makes early detection and control a key public health issue, especially in Kansas, where nearly one in three adults—about 33 percent—have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Many more may be living with the condition unknowingly.

“It’s really about tighter management,” said Dr. Bill Short, affiliate physician executive, at Memorial Health Sy