It has been found out which pressure dangerously affects brain function
A new study has highlighted the importance of considering systolic and diastolic blood pressure as a risk factor for dementia.A new study by researchers from the University of South Australia has linked short-term fluctuations in blood pressure - over the course of a day, a few days or weeks - to the risk of dementia in older adults. Blood pressure variability may also serve as an early clinical marker of cognitive impairment.
"Clinical treatments focus on hypertension while ignoring blood pressure variability," explained said Daria Gutteridge, lead author of the study. - Blood pressure can fluctuate over different periods of time - short and long - and this appears to increase the risk of dementia and blood vessel health."
For the study, researchers recruited 70 healthy adults between the ages of 60 and 80 with no signs of dementia. Participants monitored their BP and took a cognitive ability test. The scientists also measured arterial stiffness in the participants' brains and arteries. Arterial stiffness is a well-recognized cardiovascular risk factor for cognitive impairment and is characterized by a strong bidirectional relationship with arterial hypertension.
The researchers found that high systolic BP and short- and long-term variability in diastolic BP were associated with cognitive impairment independent of mean BP. Researchers also found an association between higher short-term BP variability and impaired attention and psychomotor reaction time; and daily BP variability with executive function (in a negative way).
Higher short-term systolic BP variability was also found to be associated with increased arterial stiffness.
"The results suggest that different types of BP variability are likely important for cognitive function in older adults," explains the scientist.
The researchers are confident - BP variability can be used as a potential early marker and treatment target for cognitive impairment.
The study is published in the journal Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior.