A new study published in the journal Neurology has found that changes in blood pressure over time may be linked to memory and thinking problems in older adults. This link was especially strong among Black participants, according to the researchers.
The study was led by Dr. Anisa Dhana from Rush University in Chicago. She explained that while the study doesn’t prove that blood pressure swings cause memory decline, it does show a strong connection. Dr. Dhana said these changes in blood pressure might be a risk factor for brain health, separate from just having high blood pressure.
She also stressed that it’s important for older adults to have their blood pressure checked regularly. Keeping an eye on changes could help catch problems early and might even delay memory loss.
The study followed 4,770 people with an average age of 71. About two-thirds of them were Black, and the rest were white. Blood pressure was measured at the start of the study and then again every three years for ten years. The participants also took tests to check their memory and thinking skills.
On average, participants had a blood pressure of 138 over 78, which is slightly above the level considered high. The researchers found that Black participants had bigger changes in their top blood pressure number over time—about 18 points—compared to 16 points for white participants.
Participants were divided into three groups based on how much their blood pressure changed over the years. Among Black participants, those with the biggest swings in blood pressure did worse on memory tests than those with more stable blood pressure.
The difference in brain function was similar to what you’d see with almost three extra years of aging.
However, for people who were already taking blood pressure medicine at the start of the study, the swings in blood pressure didn’t seem to affect memory as much. This suggests that managing blood pressure with medication might protect the brain.
Dr. Dhana noted that with more people getting older and rates of Alzheimer’s disease rising, it’s important to find ways to keep brains healthy. Managing blood pressure and keeping it steady might be one way to help.
The study did have some limits. It only looked at Black and white participants, so the results may not apply to everyone. But the findings still show how important it is to manage blood pressure—not just to keep it low, but to keep it steady.
For older adults, this means checking blood pressure regularly and working with their doctors to keep it under control. By doing so, they might be able to protect their memory and stay sharp as they age.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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