Dementia is one of the major challenges of the 21st century due to the enormous burden these disorders impose on health care systems. Recently, common pathways of the two most frequent causes of dementia, Alzheimer´s disease and vascular dementia have been suggested. Today there is tremendous interest in developing effective treatments that will interfere with some step in the disease cascade or even prevent the clinical onset of dementia. In the absence of effective therapies, it is essential that all potentially reversible causes of dementia be fully investigated. So far no effective prevention measures can be recommended. During the last decade evidence has accumulated that high blood pressure (hypertension) may be a risk factor for dementia, independent of the presence of cerebrovascular disease. Treatment of hypertension thus might be a key factor in the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Dr. Ingmar Skoog, a renowned Swedish researcher in neuroscience from Göteborg University, will evaluate the latest findings about the effect of antihypertensive treatment on cognitive function and dementia and highlight a controversially discussed topic with broad impact on public health in all European countries: Is there hope for the prevention of dementia?
