A recent study by scientists at University College London highlights the significant impact of high blood pressure in midlife on brain health in later years.
The research found that elevated blood pressure and substantial increases in blood pressure during one’s midlife could lead to brain changes associated with cognitive decline.
Specifically, the study linked high blood pressure to reductions in overall brain volume and an increase in white matter hyperintensities, which are lesions in the brain’s white matter.
Understanding how high blood pressure affects cognitive health, particularly the timing and mechanisms, has been challenging. This study sheds light on the issue by examining 502 participants from the Insight 46 birth cohort, all born in a single week in 1946 in Britain.
Remarkably, these individuals were cognitively healthy at age 70 when they were enrolled in the study. The researchers assessed their brain volume, hippocampus volume, white matter lesion extent, beta-amyloid plaque accumulation, and cognitive capabilities around the age of 70.
One of the study’s key findings is the observation that high and increasing blood pressure between the ages of 36 and 53 is closely associated with smaller brain volume and more white matter lesions later in life.
This suggests that the detrimental effects of high blood pressure on the brain may start earlier in life than previously thought.
However, the study found no evidence linking blood pressure with cognitive function declines or the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques, which are early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease.
This indicates that the relationship between midlife blood pressure and late-life brain health does not operate through the pathway of beta-amyloid accumulation.
The implications of these findings are profound, suggesting that the fourth to sixth decades of life are critical periods during which high blood pressure and its increases can significantly affect brain health in the future.
The researchers argue for the importance of routine blood pressure monitoring starting at or before the age of 40. They also suggest that strategies for managing blood pressure might need to vary with age to effectively protect brain health.
This study underscores the necessity of managing blood pressure from midlife to prevent potential brain health issues later on.
It points towards a targeted approach to blood pressure control, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and age-specific management strategies.
Published in The Lancet Neurology, this research by Professor Jonathan M Schott and colleagues offers valuable insights into preventing cognitive decline by addressing blood pressure in midlife, enriching our understanding of the complex interplay between cardiovascular health and brain function.
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