China rural hypertension program reduces dementia risk by 15%

A long-term trial in rural China has demonstrated that a low-tech blood pressure management program can reduce the risk of all-cause dementia by 15% over seven years. The China Rural Hypertension Control Program (CRHCP) involved 33,995 adults over the age of 40 with uncontrolled hypertension across 326 villages.

Unlike traditional medical models, the intervention was led by trained non-physician community health workers rather than doctors. These workers used a simple protocol to adjust medications and provided lifestyle coaching, while primary care physicians provided supervision.

Participants in the intervention group achieved significantly greater blood pressure reductions—averaging 22 mmHg systolic and 9.3 mmHg diastolic more than the usual-care group—and experienced fewer serious adverse events. The study was led by Professor Yingxian Sun of China Medical University and Professor Jiang He of UT Southwestern Medical Center.