Raised Blood Pressure in Midlife Raises the Risk of Dementia in Late Life

It is well known that hypertension, raised blood pressure, results in greater risk of a range of age-related conditions, particularly cognitive decline and dementia. The mechanisms of interest include damage to the blood-brain barrier, allowing unwanted molecules and cells into the brain, where they can spur chronic inflammation, and rupture of small blood vessels in the brain, resulting in microbleeds that are effectively tiny strokes, destroying small regions of tissue. Over time, this all adds up, and is why even methods that force a lowering of blood pressure without addressing the underlying causes of hypertension can produce a sizable reduction in risk of age-related disease and mortality. As noted in the data presented here, this is a matter of accumulated damage over time, so maintaining a lower blood pressure is a life-long concern. In a study that spanned two and a half decades and looked at data from more than 4,700 participants, researchers have added to evidence that abnormal blood pressure in midlife persisting into late life increases the likelihood of developing dementia. Although not designed to show cause and effect, the study suggests that maintaining a healthy blood pressure throughout life may be one way to help decrease one's risk of losing brain function. In their study, they found that those people with the high blood pressure condition hypertension during middle age and during late life were 49% more likely to develop dementia than those with...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs