BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- More than 3 million Americans age 70 and older have dementia, and an additional 5 million Americans have memory impairments that put them at high risk for the disease.

Currently there are no proven methods for avoiding dementia, though some studies have shown that higher education, eating well, and getting regular exercise may reduce the risk.

Now a new study has suggested that lowering blood pressure might also cut the odds of dementia.

Researchers compared results of an international study on blood pressure lowering among those older than age 80 with similar, placebo-controlled trials.

They found that blood pressure treatment with medications called diuretics and ace inhibitors reduced dementia odds by 13 percent.

The primary study of more than 3,000 patients was stopped early because it was such a success --blood pressure medications cut the risk of stroke and death among the very elderly.