2023-10-22 21:06:01
Fluctuations in Blood Pressure Linked to Reduced Cognitive Ability, Increased Risk of Heart Disease
A new study has found that fluctuations in blood pressure can have significant effects on cognitive ability and increase the risk of heart disease. The research, published in the magazine Cerebral Circulation – Cognition and Behaviour, highlights the importance of not only monitoring blood pressure levels but also paying attention to any fluctuations.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of South Australia, suggests that short-term fluctuations in blood pressure within 24 hours or over several days or weeks are associated with reduced cognitive ability. Furthermore, greater fluctuations in systolic pressure, which is the upper pressure, are linked to vessel wall stiffness, thus increasing the risk of heart disease.
“Clinical treatment focuses only on high blood pressure but completely ignores blood pressure fluctuations. However, sometimes your blood pressure fluctuates considerably – both in the short and long term – and this appears to increase the risk of dementia and damage blood vessels,” explains Daria Gutteridge, a PhD candidate and the study leader.
To investigate the mechanisms linking blood pressure variations to dementia, the researchers recruited 70 healthy elderly individuals aged 60 to 80 years who showed no signs of cognitive impairment. The participants underwent blood pressure measurements as well as cognitive tests. The stiffness of their arteries and blood vessels in the brain were also measured using a transcranial Doppler examination (TCD) and an analysis of the heart rate.
The results revealed that greater blood pressure variation over one or more days was associated with cognitive impairment. Additionally, it was observed that greater fluctuations in systolic blood pressure had an impact on the cognitive ability of the elderly.
The findings of this study suggest that blood pressure variation could potentially be used as a clinical marker for early detection of cognitive impairment. By examining blood pressure fluctuations in elderly individuals without cognitive impairment, researchers believe it provides valuable insights into underlying biological mechanisms.
“The study results suggest that the different modes of variation in blood pressure provide a picture of underlying biological mechanisms and that fluctuations in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure are important markers of cognitive function in older adults,” wrote the Australian research team.
These findings emphasize the importance of not only managing high blood pressure but also monitoring blood pressure fluctuations. By doing so, healthcare professionals may be able to identify individuals at risk of cognitive impairment and heart disease at an early stage. Further research in this area is warranted to fully understand the relationship between blood pressure fluctuations and cognitive ability.]
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