"Every day Dr. Walter Koroshetz https  takes a pill as part of his effort to help keep his brain healthy and sharp. The pill is his blood pressure medication. And Koroshetz who directs the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says controlling high blood pressure helps him reduce his risk of dementia. He also keeps his blood pressure down by exercising and paying attention to his weight and diet. Im a believer he says. Koroshetz is urging other people with high blood pressure to follow his lead. He is responsible for the institutes public health campaign called Mind Your Risks httpsmindyourrisks.nih.gov. Its goal is to let people know that there is a link between high blood pressure stroke and dementia. When blood pressure rises it strains the tiny blood vessels that keep brain cells alive Koroshetz says. With every pulse of your heart you are pushing blood into these very small blood vessels in the brain he says. And when the heart pushes too hard as it does when blood pressure is elevated it can cause damage that can lead to a stroke. At least two large studies have revealed an alarming trend among stroke patients Koroshetz says. If you had a stroke even a small stroke your risk of dementia within the next two years was greatly magnified he says. So theres something about having a stroke that drives a lot of the processes that give rise to dementia. The evidence is clearest for a type of dementia called vascular dementia https It occurs when something blocks or reduces the flow of blood to brain cells. Article continues after this message from our sponsor But high blood pressure also appears to increase a persons risk of developing Alzheimers disease which is associated with the accumulation of plaques and tangles in the brain. If people knew about the link between dementia and high blood pressure they might be more inclined to do something about it Koroshetz says. Only about  percent of people who have hypertension are actually treated he says. So I think theres a lot to be said for trying to get high blood pressure under control. Koroshetzs campaign is getting some help from the Alzheimers Association https The group will present new research on blood pressure and Alzheimers at its annual scientific meeting https in Chicago which starts July . And the group is encouraging people to control high blood pressure. The good news is that we can control blood pressure now says Maria Carrillo the groups chief science officer. We can do that with exercise with lifestyle with healthy eating and also with medications. Koroshetz is using all of these approaches. And he says other people with high blood pressure should follow his lead. When you get to be my age youre going to be very grateful that you controlled your blood pressure and exercised he says"