Blood pressure variability ‘modifiable risk factor’ for cognitive decline
There’s not much aging individuals can do to beat back age-related cognitive impairment once it begins, but improving consistency in blood pressure seems to help slow the pace of the falloff in those with significant BP swings.
And the clearer-mind effect may be most pronounced in those treated for high variability in short- to mid-term diastolic readings, likely because these ups and downs can bring on cerebral ischemia.
That’s according to researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands whose study was published online Feb. 11 in Hypertension.
Evaluating adults ranging in age from 40 to 75 enrolled in the Maastricht Study, the team focused on finding out whether greater systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability (BPV) are cross-sectionally associated with memory function, information processing speed and executive function.
They developed a composite BPV index by standardizing within-visit, 24-hour and 7-day BPV values.
After adjusting for age, sex, educational level, 24-hour systolic or diastolic pressure and cardiovascular risk factors, the authors reported that greater diastolic blood pressure variability was associated with lower information processing speed and executive function and marginally associated with lower memory function.
“These effects on cognitive performance are equivalent to approximately three additional years of aging,” they wrote.
The team also found greater systolic blood pressure variability was marginally associated with lower memory function, although it was not associated with information processing speed or executive function.
“An increasing number of individuals will face age-related cognitive difficulties because life expectancy has increased,” the authors commented. “It is, therefore, important to identify modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment. … [G]reater very short-term to mid-term diastolic and, to a lesser extent, systolic blood pressure variability may be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive deterioration.”
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.