The big picture:

University of Utah Health is leading a groundbreaking $21.6 million study to understand how controlling blood pressure might reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Why it matters

High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for dementia, but there are currently no proven preventive therapies, according to Dr. Adam Bress, professor of population health sciences at University of Utah Health and lead investigator. This research could change how we approach screening and treatment of cognitive decline.

How it works

• Researchers will analyze 40,000 blood samples from the landmark 2015 SPRINT trial
• Samples will undergo advanced biomarker testing at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Arizona
• The study will examine whether lowering blood pressure to 120 (versus 140) affects Alzheimer’s pathology markers
• Testing will reveal how heart health connects to memory, thinking, and aging

The backstory

The SPRINT trial showed that treating blood pressure to 120 instead of 140 reduced heart attacks, strokes, mortality, and mild cognitive impairment, says Bress. University of Utah Health was one of five clinical coordinating networks for the trial and now houses the SPRINT Biorepository.

What they’re saying

“Better understanding and better public health campaigns that monitoring and screening your blood pressure and treating it actually lowers your risk of dementia,” Bress says. “Our study will help clarify how it’s doing that and interactions between vascular health, which we think is the traditional pathway between blood pressure and the brain.”

Bress notes that basic science research is critical: “Innovation and discovery is what I think makes America really exceptional. And we need to be investing in the type of science that leads to discoveries later down the road.”

By the numbers

• Over 7 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
• By 2050, that number is expected to reach 13 million
• Alzheimer’s is one of the leading causes of disability, according to Dr. Bress.

What’s next

The study is now underway. Investigators held their kickoff meeting in December, and samples will soon be shipped to Arizona for testing. Initial results are expected in early 2027.

The bottom line

This research could reshape our understanding of how blood pressure management affects brain health and provide new tools for preventing dementia in an aging population. The project represents a continuation of University of Utah Health’s legacy in hypertension research and demonstrates the institution’s leadership in collaborative science.