A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that low blood pressure (hypotension) is strongly linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, even more so than high blood pressure. The analysis, which examined health data from nearly 800,000 adults in the UK Biobank and the U.S. All of Us Research Program, identified several cardiovascular disease (CVD) conditions and risk factors associated with a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer's.
According to the study, adults with hypotension in the UK Biobank were about three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's, and nearly twice as likely in the All of Us study, compared to those without low blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) was associated with a 1.6 times higher risk across both datasets. Stroke increased risk by 1.5 times in the UK Biobank and 1.85 times in All of Us, while irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) was linked to a 1.5 times higher risk in the UK Biobank. Notably, heart attacks were not significantly associated with Alzheimer's risk.
The researchers emphasized the importance of examining individual CVD conditions rather than grouping them together. “By examining different types of heart disease individually, we identified which adults with heart disease might have the highest risk for cognitive decline,” said Aili Toyli, B.S., lead author of the study and a student at Michigan Technological University. “This highlights the importance of optimal cardiovascular health to possibly prevent Alzheimer's disease.”
The connection between CVD and Alzheimer's was particularly strong among Black and Hispanic participants, who were three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's compared to white participants, especially in relation to hypertension. This disparity underscores the need for targeted interventions in these populations.
The study also found that certain DNA regions were linked to both CVD and Alzheimer's, suggesting common biological roots. However, more research is needed to understand these mechanisms. “Detailed research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms that might be behind the links between Alzheimer's and CVD. Once we determine the specific pathway that connects them, we may be able to intervene and break the chain before Alzheimer's develops,” Toyli added.
Dr. Elisabeth Marsh, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University and chair of the American Heart Association’s 2026 Scientific Statement on Brain Health Across the Lifespan, commented on the findings: “This study shows us that blood pressure can also become a problem when it is too low for long periods of time. The brain needs blood to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly.” She noted that low blood pressure may lead to brain dysfunction by depriving the brain of necessary resources.
The findings have significant implications for leaders in business and technology, particularly those involved in healthcare innovation and population health management. As Alzheimer's disease imposes a growing burden on healthcare systems and economies, understanding its links to cardiovascular health can drive preventive strategies and inform product development in digital health, wearable monitoring, and AI-driven risk assessment tools. Companies focusing on cardiovascular health management, such as those developing blood pressure monitoring devices or health analytics platforms, may find new opportunities in addressing hypotension, which has received less attention than hypertension.
The study analyzed data from over 502,000 adults in the UK Biobank (average age 57, 94% white) and more than 287,000 adults in the All of Us program (average age 58, 53% white, 20% Black, 17% Hispanic). Researchers examined 10 types of CVD and risk factors, adjusting for lifestyle factors like age, smoking, physical activity, and Type 2 diabetes. Diagnoses were based on electronic health records using standardized billing codes.
Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which cannot establish causality, and potential misclassification from billing codes. Many participants had multiple conditions, complicating the isolation of individual effects. Nonetheless, the study adds to the growing evidence that cardiovascular health is critical for brain health.
The American Heart Association’s Life's Essential 8 metrics—measuring physical activity, diet, smoking, sleep, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar—offer a framework for reducing CVD risk and potentially Alzheimer's risk. As the world's population ages, integrating cardiovascular and neurological health monitoring could become a priority for employers, insurers, and healthcare providers.
For more information, the full manuscript is available online. The American Heart Association also provides resources on heart and brain health at heart.org.
