Scientists from the University of Miami have found something interesting about blood pressure that could help us understand brain health better.
When you go to the doctor and get your blood pressure checked, two numbers are shown. The top number is called systolic blood pressure. It tells how hard your blood pushes against your arteries when your heart beats.
The bottom number is called diastolic blood pressure. It shows the pressure when your heart rests between beats.
Most doctors usually pay more attention to the top number because it is a strong sign of heart problems. But this new study shows that the bottom number might also tell us important things—especially about the brain.
The researchers looked at 1,205 people who were 50 years or older. They measured each person’s blood pressure and did brain scans to see inside their brains. They were looking for something called white matter lesions.
These are small damaged areas in the brain that can make it harder for nerve signals to travel. When this happens, people may have trouble walking, thinking, remembering things, or even staying balanced.
The scientists discovered that people who had a lower bottom blood pressure—less than 80—tended to have fewer of these brain lesions. On the other hand, people with a higher bottom number—over 90—had more brain damage.
Before this study, other research had already shown that high top blood pressure could hurt the brain by narrowing the blood vessels. This new study adds to that by showing that the bottom number matters too, especially for certain brain areas that are important for memory and thinking.
White matter is a part of the brain that helps send messages between different areas. If there are lesions in this white matter, these messages can get lost or delayed.
That’s why white matter lesions can cause memory loss, poor balance, and slower thinking. The American Heart Association says these lesions are found in 10 to 20 percent of people by the time they turn 60. They become even more common in people over 90.
This new research helps doctors see how important it is to keep both blood pressure numbers in a healthy range. Watching the bottom number more closely could help doctors find out who might be at risk for brain problems early. It may also help them find ways to stop strokes or memory loss before they start.
The study focused especially on brain areas around the ventricles, which are spaces in the brain filled with fluid. Damage in these areas is more closely linked to memory problems and thinking issues. Since blood flows to different brain areas in different ways, high blood pressure can affect each part in a unique manner.
The team who led the research says everyone should know their blood pressure numbers and talk to their doctor about what those numbers mean. Taking care of your blood pressure might also mean taking care of your brain.
If you care about brain health ,please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more health information, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
The study was led by Michelle R. Caunca and published in the journal Stroke.
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