What’s the Big Deal About Blood Pressure and Brain Health?
You’ve probably heard that high blood pressure isn’t good for your heart, but did you know it can also affect your brain?
For folks over 50 with high blood pressure, lowering it could help prevent mental decline like forgetfulness or even dementia.
But what if your diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number when you get a reading) is already low? Some experts thought that lowering blood pressure too much might actually increase dementia risks for these folks.
What’s New in This Study?
Chinese researchers have shared some good news: lowering the systolic blood pressure (that’s the top number in a blood pressure reading) doesn’t hurt people, even if their diastolic levels are low.
In fact, people who lowered their systolic pressure a lot were less likely to develop dementia or what’s called mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is like forgetfulness on steroids.
They found these benefits regardless of whether people’s starting diastolic levels were high or low.
In plain words, this new research supports the idea that most of us should aim to lower our blood pressure for the sake of both our hearts and our brains.
Dr. Rebecca Gottesman, who wasn’t involved in the study, agreed. She said this study helps us know more about who can really benefit from bringing down their blood pressure.
How Was the Research Conducted?
The researchers in China took data from an older study that aimed to find out if intense blood pressure control could help people 50 and older.
In the older study, people were divided into two groups: one group aimed for a top-number blood pressure below 120, while the other aimed for below 140.
This new research looked at how these blood pressure goals affected people’s chances of developing dementia or MCI.
In the earlier study, they stopped the trial early because it was pretty clear that keeping blood pressure low helped to reduce risks of heart disease and death.
But the data didn’t go to waste. The Chinese researchers found that folks aiming for the lower blood pressure were also less likely to develop mental decline, regardless of their diastolic pressure.
What Should We Make of This?
Well, it’s good news mostly, especially if you’re already keeping an eye on your blood pressure for your heart’s sake.
This study suggests you might be doing your brain a favor, too. But, and there’s always a but, more studies are needed to confirm these findings, especially for folks with very low diastolic levels.
The study was a bit short because they had to stop the earlier trial early, so we need more time to be sure about the long-term effects.
All in all, this study adds a piece to the puzzle of how our lifestyle choices, like keeping blood pressure in check, can affect our overall health, including our brains.
So the next time you think about skipping that walk or reaching for the salt shaker, remember you’re not just doing your heart a favor by making healthier choices; you’re likely helping your brain, too.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that common painkillers can harm your blood pressure, and common high blood pressure drugs may actually raise blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure control, please see recent studies about teas that may help reduce high blood pressure, and results showing this recommended high blood pressure drug may have dangerous side effects.
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