ACPM is committed to educating health care professionals about the wide array of preventive measures that can help protect brain health. Key among these are blood pressure control and other modifiable risk factors as a possible mechanism for reducing the risk of future impaired brain health and cognitive decline.
Mild cognitive impairment is a significant predictor of developing more severe mental health problems. Eight out of 10 adults who experience mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to just 1 in 3 adults who do not experience the condition. There is strong evidence to suggest that preventive measures focused on maintaining healthy blood pressure, in addition to other interventions, can reduce the onset of mild cognitive impairment and control the risk of more severe issues in the future.
Continuing Education
ACPM has compiled a set of the latest educational tools and CME opportunities on the connection between blood pressure and brain health. These resources can help health care professionals assess, diagnose and refer patients to evidence-based blood pressure management programs for preventing the onset of cognitive decline and other brain-related health conditions.
ACPM has also developed an online course on brain health with support from the CDC Division of Population Health. This course synthesizes the findings and resources on blood pressure management and behavioral modification for the prevention of cognitive decline into a one-hour CME session for health care professionals.