In a recent study, researchers found that for adults with high blood pressure, greater blood pressure control than what’s currently considered standard is associated with fewer adverse changes of the brain.
This could mean lower risks of dementia and cognitive impairment.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of Texas at Austin.
In the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of 449 adults, the team showed that those with high blood pressure who achieved systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mm Hg — known as “intensive” blood pressure control — had a small but much lower amount of white matter lesions on their brain.
These people also had a slightly greater decrease in brain volume than similar patients who achieved the current standard for a healthy blood pressure of 140 mm Hg.
White matter brain lesions are well-documented to be associated with a greater likelihood of cognitive decline.
According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure is considered 130 mm Hg or higher.
The team says that high blood pressure is a treatable condition, and if people treat high blood pressure aggressively, people could have a positive benefit on cognition and brain structure.
Though the benefit may be small, it’s one of the few impactful cognition-related interventions.
The study supports the findings of a previous study that showed intensive blood pressure control is associated with fewer incidents of cognitive adverse events.
Both studies were part of a larger body of NIH-funded research known as Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), designed to determine the protective value of lower blood pressure for heart, kidney and brain health.
Previous research within SPRINT also showed that intensive blood pressure control among people with hypertension is linked to better outcomes in terms of risks of heart attack, heart failure, and death.
The next step in this investigation is to understand the effects of intensive blood pressure control among younger adults, such as those in their 40s.
The lead author of the study is R. Nick Bryan, M.D., Ph.D., chair and professor of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine at Dell Medical School.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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