High blood pressure appears to accelerate cognitive decline among middle-aged and older adults, but treating the condition may slow this down, according to a study.
“The findings are important because high blood pressure and cognitive decline are two of the most common conditions associated with ageing, and more people are living longer, worldwide,” said L H Lumey, a professor at Columbia University in the US.
According to the American Heart Association’s 2017 Hypertension Guidelines, high blood pressure affects about 80 million US adults and one billion people globally. Moreover, the relationship between brain health and high blood pressure is a growing interest as researchers examine how elevated blood pressure affects the brain’s blood vessels, which in turn, may impact memory, language, and thinking skills.
High blood pressure was defined as having a systolic blood pressure of 140 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) or higher and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. According to guidelines of the American Heart Association, high blood pressure is defined as 130 mmHg or higher or a diastolic reading of 80 mmH or higher. “We think efforts should be made to expand high blood pressure screenings, especially for at-risk populations, because so many people are not aware that they have high blood pressure that should be treated,” said study author Shumin Rui. (PTI)
