Blood Pressure & Cognitive Decline: What’s the Link?
- Significant swings in blood pressure could be associated with later problems in thinking adn memory, research indicates.
- anisa Dhana,MD,MSc,of Rush University in Chicago,the study's author,cautioned that the research demonstrates an association,not a direct cause.
- The study involved 4,770 participants, 66% Black, with an average age of 71.
Blood pressure variability may increase the risk of cognitive issues, new research reveals. This study, published in Neurology, found a notable association between fluctuating blood pressure and cognitive decline, especially among older Black adults. Study author Dr. Anisa Dhana emphasizes that monitoring blood pressure variability could help identify those at risk. The research involved 4,770 participants, measuring blood pressure and cognitive assessments over a decade.Black participants with the highest blood pressure variability scored lower on cognitive tests, equivalent to 2.8 years of cognitive aging.For those managing blood pressure with medication, the study indicated no meaningful cognitive impact from fluctuations. Managing blood pressure fluctuations may delay cognitive decline.News Directory 3 keeps you informed on pressing health studies. Discover what’s next in this crucial research.
Blood Pressure Fluctuations Linked to Cognitive Decline Risk
Updated Dec 11, 2024
Significant swings in blood pressure could be associated with later problems in thinking adn memory, research indicates. The study, published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, highlights this link primarily among older Black adults.
anisa Dhana,MD,MSc,of Rush University in Chicago,the study’s author,cautioned that the research demonstrates an association,not a direct cause. She stated that monitoring blood pressure variability in older adults could identify those at risk and potentially mitigate cognitive decline. Managing blood pressure is emerging as an essential risk factor that can be modified, Dhana said.
The study involved 4,770 participants, 66% Black, with an average age of 71. Blood pressure was measured every three years for a decade, alongside cognitive assessments.
The average blood pressure among participants was 138/78 mmHg. Systolic blood pressure variation averaged 18 mmHg for Black participants and 16 mmHg for white participants.
Black participants with the highest blood pressure variability scored lower on cognitive tests, equivalent to 2.8 years of cognitive aging. Among those taking blood pressure medication, variation did not affect cognitive test scores.
What’s next
Further research is needed to confirm these findings across diverse populations and to explore interventions for managing blood pressure variability to potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline.