Most people know that keeping blood pressure under control is important for heart health. However, scientists are now learning that blood pressure can also affect the brain in ways that are not always obvious.
A new study suggests that the lower number in a blood pressure reading may provide valuable information about a person’s future brain health.
Blood pressure is written as two numbers. The top number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the force of blood against artery walls when the heart beats.
The bottom number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure while the heart relaxes between beats. Doctors have traditionally paid more attention to the top number because it is closely linked with heart disease and stroke.
Researchers at the University of Miami wanted to find out whether the lower number could also tell doctors something important about the brain. Their findings were published in the journal Stroke. The study was led by Michelle R. Caunca.
The team studied 1,205 adults aged 50 years and older. Each participant had their blood pressure measured and underwent an MRI scan so researchers could examine the health of their brain.
The scientists focused on tiny areas of damage known as white matter lesions. These small scars develop when the brain’s tiny blood vessels become damaged over time. Although they may not cause symptoms at first, they can slowly affect how well different parts of the brain communicate with each other.
When white matter is healthy, it carries signals that help people move, think, remember information, and keep their balance. As these pathways become damaged, the brain has a harder time sending messages. This may increase the risk of memory problems, difficulty walking, falls, and stroke.
The study found that people with lower diastolic blood pressure, below 80, generally had fewer white matter lesions. In contrast, people whose diastolic pressure was above 90 were more likely to have these areas of brain damage. The results suggest that the lower blood pressure number may deserve more attention during routine health checks.
The researchers also found that higher diastolic pressure was linked to a type of lesion called periventricular white matter lesions. These lesions develop near the brain’s fluid-filled spaces and have been linked with poorer memory and thinking ability in previous research.
The findings add to earlier studies showing that high systolic blood pressure can damage the brain by harming blood vessels.
This new research suggests that diastolic pressure may also influence brain health, especially in regions involved in memory and thinking. Because different parts of the brain receive blood from different arteries, blood pressure may not affect every area in the same way.
According to the American Heart Association, white matter lesions become more common with age. They affect about 10% to 20% of people by age 60, and they are found in almost everyone over the age of 90. Finding ways to reduce this damage could help lower the risk of dementia, stroke, and loss of independence later in life.
The researchers believe that regularly checking both blood pressure numbers may help doctors identify people at higher risk before serious brain problems develop.
They encourage adults to know their blood pressure readings and work with their healthcare provider to keep them in a healthy range. More research will help explain exactly how controlling diastolic blood pressure could protect the aging brain.
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 health information, 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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