A quick internet search will tell you that getting daily, moderate exercise is one of the best ways to prevent cognitive decline. (Incorporating more camembert cheese into your diet can help, too, but that’s a story for another time!) However, new research suggests that your blood pressure reading can also say a lot about your cognitive state—specifically, for those living with high blood pressure.
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Research found that intensive blood pressure monitoring can keep your brain as sharp as a tack.
A new study published in the medical journal Neurology indicates that adults with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk can lower their risk of cognitive decline with intensive blood pressure management.
When left uncontrolled, hypertension (or high blood pressure) can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney problems, vision loss, diabetes, and changes in memory, according to Mayo Clinic. Meanwhile, high cardiovascular risk refers to your likelihood of experiencing a cardiac event. (You learn more about cardiovascular risk assessments here.)
"Our study shows that intensive blood pressure control is an important strategy in the prevention of cognitive impairment, a major cause of loss of independence in older adults," Jeff Williamson, MD, study author and college medical professor, said in a press release. "Lowering your blood pressure to more aggressive targets can improve the quality of life and extend active life for individuals with hypertension."
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"Aggressive" blood pressure management was linked to better cardiac and cognitive health.
According to the study’s findings, less than four years of "aggressive" blood pressure management can have long-term positive effects on cognitive function, particularly memory. Healthy blood pressure levels can also reduce the risk of other cardiac issues.
These results stem from a "prespecified secondary analysis" of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial, during which 9,361 participants aged 50 or older were randomly assigned systolic blood pressure goals. Those aiming for less than 120 mm Hg were in the "intensive treatment" group, while those with a goal of less than 140 mm Hg were under "standard treatment."
Cognitive assessments were conducted in person and over the phone for a median of seven years. Based on their cognitive status, participants were classified into three groups: no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and probable dementia.
The study showed that participants seeking intensive management had a lower rate of cognitive decline than their peers in just 3.5 years.
"248 participants of the intensive treatment group were adjudicated with probable dementia, compared with 293 participants in the standard treatment group. Consistent with earlier results from the trial, the rate of both mild cognitive impairment and a composite of MCI [mild cognitive impairment] or probable dementia was lower with intensive treatment," wrote the study’s authors.
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The takeaway:
Keeping your blood pressure in check not only boosts your physical health, but your cognitive health as well.
However, this study isn’t without its limitations. Young adults weren’t represented, yet the American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that 23 percent of 18- to 39-year-olds have hypertension. More research is needed to fully understand the correlation between high cardiovascular risk and cognitive impairment.
