Researchers in the new study have found that high blood pressure was associated with 62 per cent higher risk of vascular dementia between the ages of 30-50.
The conclusion was arrived at after the medical records of more than four million people were analysed and studied.
The new study conducted by The George Institute for Global Health (GIGH) which was published in the journal of the American Heart Association.
A common form of dementia caused by an impaired supply of blood to the brain such as may be caused by a series of small strokes.
Also Read
The GIGH statement said vascular dementia affects around 700,000 people in India and is caused by reduced blood supply to the brain due to diseased blood vessels.
"We already know that high blood pressure can raise the risk of stroke and heart attack. What makes this study significant is that, for the first time it has shown that high blood pressure is also associated with a significantly higher risk of vascular dementia," said Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director GIGH.
The study found patients aged 30-50, who had high blood pressure, had a 62 per cent higher risk of vascular dementia, and a 26 per cent higher risk at age 51-70.
The study also found that high blood pressure was still a risk factor even after adjusting for the presence of stroke, the leading cause of vascular dementia.
"Our results suggest that lowering blood pressure, either by exercise, diet or blood pressure lowering drugs, could reduce the risk of vascular dementia," Rahimi said.