Researchers at the University of Miami have made an intriguing discovery about blood pressure and its impact on brain health.
Everyone knows that blood pressure is a key health indicator, typically reported with two numbers.
The top number, systolic blood pressure, shows the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. The bottom number, diastolic blood pressure, indicates the pressure while the heart rests between beats.
Usually, people pay more attention to the top number, as it’s considered a better predictor of heart disease risk.
However, this study reveals that the diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) might be crucial in assessing the risk of brain health issues, such as dementia, stroke, or falls.
According to guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the AHA, a diastolic reading of 80 or higher is considered high blood pressure.
The University of Miami study explored how blood pressure relates to the presence of white matter lesions in the brain.
These lesions are scars that can obstruct the brain’s messages controlling muscle movement, sensation, and thinking, and are linked to a higher risk of falls, stroke, and cognitive issues.
In their research, which included 1,205 individuals aged 50 and above, the team found that those with the lowest diastolic blood pressure had fewer of these white matter lesions on their MRI scans compared to those with higher readings.
This is a significant finding, considering that previous studies mostly focused on the link between high systolic pressure and narrowed arteries leading to these lesions.
Interestingly, the study revealed that people with a diastolic pressure below 80 had smaller lesions in three specific brain regions on MRI scans than those with diastolic pressure over 90.
White matter lesions, which are quite common in older adults, can severely impact brain function and health.
The researchers noted that different brain regions are supplied by different blood vessels, and diseases may affect these regions variably. Particularly, lesions in the periventricular white matter are more strongly associated with cognitive issues.
This study sheds new light on the importance of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in overall health, especially brain health.
It underscores the need to be aware of your blood pressure and to discuss with your doctor the best ways to manage it for your overall well-being.
For those interested in blood pressure and its effects on health, this research could be very informative. The study, led by Michelle R. Caunca and her team, was published in the journal Stroke.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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