High blood pressure among the over 80s can increase their chances of dementia, a study has found.

The condition pressure is already associated with an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks.

And these new findings show lowering blood pressure among this elderly age group could cut their chances of dementia by 13 per cent.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "This is an exciting development, with the potential to enhance thousands of lives.

"We urgently need more research like this if we are to offer hope to the 700,000 people in the UK who live with dementia."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.