When you go to the doctor and get your blood pressure checked, you’ll usually see two numbers on the screen.
Most people know these numbers are important for heart health. But new research suggests that one of these numbers might also give clues about your brain health, especially as you get older.
These two numbers are called systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The first number, systolic, shows how hard your blood pushes against your artery walls when your heart beats.
The second number, diastolic, shows the pressure when your heart is resting between beats. Doctors usually focus more on the systolic number, but a new study says the second number might also matter a lot.
A team led by Dr. Michelle R. Caunca at the University of Miami looked at how diastolic pressure affects the brain. Their study, published in the journal Stroke, found that higher diastolic pressure may lead to tiny scars in the brain.
These scars are called white matter lesions. Even though they’re small, they can cause big problems like memory loss, confusion, falls, and even dementia or strokes.
To understand the connection, the researchers studied 1,205 adults aged 50 and up. They used MRI scans to check for brain scars. They found that people with lower diastolic pressure (below 80) had fewer brain scars than those with higher pressure (above 90). This means that keeping this second number low might help protect your brain.
White matter in the brain is like a highway for messages. It helps different parts of the brain talk to each other. When there are scars in the white matter, it’s harder for your brain to send and receive signals.
This can make it more difficult to walk, remember things, or think clearly. In fact, these brain scars are one reason some older adults have trouble with balance or forget things more often.
By the time people reach their 60s, about 1 in 5 already have these white matter lesions. Almost everyone will have them in their 90s. That’s why it’s important to know how to slow them down or stop them from getting worse.
The study also found that where these scars appear in the brain makes a difference. Scars near the brain’s fluid-filled spaces (called the periventricular area) are especially bad for thinking and memory. This part of the brain seems to be more sensitive to damage from high diastolic pressure.
So, what can we do with this information? It shows that we shouldn’t ignore that second blood pressure number. While it’s still important to watch your systolic pressure, keeping your diastolic number in a healthy range could help protect your brain as you age.
Talk to your doctor about both of your blood pressure numbers. Ask what they mean and what you can do to keep them healthy. Exercise, eating well, avoiding too much salt, and managing stress are all helpful. The goal is not just to have a healthy heart, but also to keep your brain working well as you grow older.
This research is a reminder that our brain and heart are connected in more ways than we might think. Keeping both healthy can help us live a better, more active life for longer.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Scientists find a drug related to Viagra may help treat vascular dementia and findings of link between body inflammation and dementia risk.
For more about dementia, please read studies about Scientists find a simple solution to fight dementia and findings of Big causes of memory loss, dementia you need to know.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
