Blood Pressure Ups & Downs May Harm Seniors' Thinking
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2024 -- Keeping your blood pressure in check is important for more than just heart health -- it can also keep your brain sharp as you age.
A new study published Dec. 11 in the journal Neurology shows that seniors whose blood pressure spikes and drops over time might be more likely to suffer a decline in their thinking and memory skills.
“These results suggest that fluctuation in blood pressure is a risk factor for cognitive problems beyond the negative effects of high blood pressure itself,” said researcher Dr. Anisa Dhana, a postdoctoral researcher with Rush University in Chicago.
For the study, researchers recruited nearly 4,800 people with an average age of 71. Participants had their blood pressure tested regularly over three years, and completed thinking and memory skills tests at the beginning and end of the 10-year study.
Overall, participants had an average blood pressure of 138/78. High blood pressure is defined as 130/80 or higher.
It's important to note, however, that this study was observational and could not draw a direct cause-and-effect link between blood pressure and brain health, Dhana noted.
Results showed that people whose blood pressure fluctuated the most experienced nearly three additional years of brain aging, based on cognitive tests.
On the other hand, people taking blood pressure medications showed no difference in scores on thinking tests by the end of the study, researchers said.
“Older adults should be routinely monitored for their blood pressure and any changes over time so we can identify people who may have this issue and work to alleviate it, which could potentially help to prevent or delay cognitive problems,” Dhana noted in a journal news release.
Black participants tended to have more variation in their blood pressure than whites, researchers found, and that also led to lower scores on cognitive tests.
“With our aging society and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, identifying prevention strategies to slow the decline of cognitive skills in older adults has become a public health priority,” Dhana said. “Managing blood pressure and its fluctuations is emerging as an essential risk factor that can be modified.”
Sources
- American Academy of Neurology, news release, Dec. 11, 2024
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
Phone App, OTX-202, Reduces Suicide Among High-Risk Patients
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13, 2025 — A mobile smartphone app can help reduce the risk of death among people at high risk for suicide, a new study says. The app, called OTX-202...
Psychotherapy Might Be Key Treatment For Low Back Pain
TUESDAY, Aug. 12, 2025 — A type of psychotherapy appears to provide long-lasting relief for people suffering from chronic low back pain, a new clinical trial says. Back...
High Blood Pressure? Try An Indoor Air Purifier
TUESDAY, Aug. 12, 2025 — Folks fighting high blood pressure might receive some help from a household air purifier, a new study says. Even in areas with relatively low air...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.