A new study from the University of Exeter has uncovered an important change in blood pressure that happens in the final years of life. The research shows that blood pressure in older adults starts to decline slowly about 14 years before death. This pattern was seen not only in people with serious health problems but also in healthy individuals.
The study was led by Professor George Kuchel and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine. It offers fresh insight into how blood pressure behaves in old age—something that has not been fully understood before.
In general, blood pressure rises through childhood and into middle age. Many people develop high blood pressure, or hypertension, in adulthood. However, what happens to blood pressure in later life has been less clear.
Some earlier studies noticed that blood pressure seemed to fall in older adults, but researchers often assumed this drop was due to medications or because people with lower blood pressure lived longer.
To explore this further, the team at Exeter looked at medical records from over 46,000 people in the UK who died at age 60 or older. These records came from a wide mix of patients—some were healthy, while others had conditions like heart disease, dementia, or major weight loss in their final years.
The researchers found that blood pressure gradually declined in the years before death, especially in people with dementia, heart failure, or a history of high blood pressure. People who had lost a lot of weight late in life also showed sharper declines.
But what was surprising was that even people without these health issues also showed a slow, steady drop in blood pressure in their final years.
This means the trend is not only tied to being sick or to taking certain medications. It seems to be part of the natural aging process for many people. That makes it an important pattern for doctors to consider when caring for elderly patients.
Professor Kuchel and his team suggest that while it’s still important to treat high blood pressure in older adults, a noticeable decline in blood pressure may signal changes in overall health. Doctors should be aware that this drop may indicate a shift in the body’s condition and not just a sign that the treatment is working too well.
The study does not recommend stopping blood pressure medication in elderly people. Instead, it points to the need for more research to understand why blood pressure drops with age and what it might mean for each person’s care.
Knowing that blood pressure can start to fall more than a decade before death may help healthcare providers make better decisions for older adults, including when to adjust medications or monitor for other signs of illness.
For those managing blood pressure, it’s also helpful to understand that lifestyle choices matter. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and good sleep can all support heart health. Some studies suggest that black tea might help lower blood pressure, but as always, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider before making any changes.
This research adds to what we know about how the body changes in later life. As people live longer, understanding these patterns becomes more important. With better knowledge, doctors can give older patients more personalized care, helping them stay healthy and comfortable for as long as possible.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about breakfast for better blood pressure management, and the gut feeling that lowers blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how the dash diet helps lower blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
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