Association between High Blood Pressure and Dementia

This research project aims to identify the association between high blood pressure and dementia among adults aged 40 years and above. The study will examine the impact of blood pressure on an individual's health, the causes of dementia in this age group, and the relationship between high blood pressure and dementia as a disease.

Proposal Form

Introduction:
The research project proposed herewith emphasizes on identifying the association
between high blood pressure and dementia. Several epidemiological studies have brought
forward the fact that a relationship exist among blood pressure, cognitive function and
dementia. Further, during later ages of life disease is found to be prominent in many cases.
The research is therefore conducted to identify the relationship between blood pressure and
dementia.
Dementia:
Dementia is a kind of brain disorder which gradually results in reducing an
individual’s ability to think and remember. This in turn results in rising issue of managing
daily chores of action. The disease is caused in most of the cases in higher age group of
people.
Causes of Dementia: There are various causes of dementia such as: deficiency of vitamin
B12, reduction in capability of thyroid gland and side-effects of medicines.
Aim: The research aims at identifying the association between high blood pressure and
dementia among adults with age group of 40 years and above.
Objectives: In order to achieve above mentioned research aim, the researcher is required to
achieve following list of objectives:
 To study the impact of disorder in blood pressure level on an individual’s health.
 To study the causes of dementia in adults with age group of 40 years and above.
 To assess the relationship between higher level of blood pressure and dementia as a
disease.
Literature Review
As per the literature published in past, it can be said that dementia is most commonly
found in adults. An individual faces symptoms of memory loss, raising confusions and
difficulties in speaking and understanding. It is found that high level of blood pressure when
uncontrolled can narrow and damage blood vessels in brain. With the passage of time, the
possibility would rise of getting blood vessels blocked or busted out. This in turn would
result in transfer of insufficient energy to various parts of brain. Henceforth, some cells in
brain may die or get damaged. As per the review of American heart association (AHA), it is

found that high blood pressure do disrupt the functioning and structure of cerebral blood
vessels.
According to Kennelly, P.S. and et. al. (2009), the dementia occurs in following
forms: Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD) and mixed form of both kinds.
Further, the author claimed that the chances of dementia rises as level of age increases. The
argument was supported by Reitz and et. al. (2012), who brought forward the fact that
probability of getting affected by dementia is increased by a factor of 2 with every five years
increase in the age. Dementia is expected to occur 1% times in people of 65 years; and 50%
in 85 years or older. This indicates dementia is related to age of an individual.
The research conducted by OHE indicates that Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY)
burden of dementia would increase by approximately 42% till the end of 2025. This increase
would be on the estimate of Global Disease Burden in 2010. During the year of 2015, the
authors has estimated the burden of around 440,000 DALYs. The same is anticipated to be
494,000 and 551,000 DALYs respectively for the year 2020 and 2025. This in turn suggests
that by the end of 2025 the DALY burden is expected to increase by 42% from the Global
Disease Burden (2010) estimate of 387,000 DALYs.
Medical practitioners in the United Kingdom have found treatment for Dementia as a
disease. It is seen that both drug and non-drug treatment is developed for the disease into
consideration. The treatment in form of drugs is always expected to be prescribed by
specialist into the field. Further, Cholinesterase inhibitors also help in curing the disease.
Some of the specialist also recommend Memantine for people with severe Alzheimer’s
disease. Further, certain non-drug treatment is also designed for this disease. The specialist
has found treatments in different forms from time-to-time. Nevertheless, the patients’ needs
to be highly taken care due to rise of emotional dependency.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3338151/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002634/
Research Methodology
The research is based on assessing the relationship between high blood pressure and
dementia among individuals with age group of 40 or more. The information for this research
will be accumulated through secondary sources. It is through the published data that the

relationship between two variables can be identified. Further, the qualitative methods will be
employed to conduct an analysis. The analysis will result in identifying the relationship
between high blood pressure and occurrence of dementia on logical grounds.
Ethical issues
The researcher is always into ethical dilemma while conducting an investigation. It is
essential for scholar to meet all ethical obligations while conducting the research work. The
researcher needs to collect information that is true in nature. Further, data should not be
manipulated to meet research requirements. In present case, the researcher has abided by all
ethical obligations so as to make research work valid and reliable in nature.
Gantt chart
Table 1: List of activities
Sr. No. Activities List of activities Weeks Preceding activities
1 A Supervisor meeting 1
2 B Completing the proposal 1 A
3 C Submission the proposal 2 B
4 D Approval 1 C
5 E Literature review 5 D
6 F Data collection 4 D
7 G Data analysis 4 E,F
8 H Data interpretation 3 G
9 I Drafting the project 4 E,G
10 J Review the project 2 I
11 K Finalizing the project 1 J
12 L Submission the project 1 K

Figure 1: Gantt chart
Figure 2: Network diagram
1−2−3−4−5−7−9−10−11−12
A−B−C−D−E−G−I −J −K−L
1+1+2+1+5+4 +4+2+1+1
¿ 22 weeks