Dementia term is used to describe a group of symptoms effecting memory, social abilities, and thinking. Many diseases can cause dementia, fluctuation in blood pressure is one of them.
Researchers from the University of South Australia and the University of New England have identified a potential new warning sign for dementia and heart disease – fluctuating blood pressure.
In a recent study, blood pressure variations over a 24-hour period, as well as across several days or weeks, were linked to impaired cognition. The research, published in the journal Cerebral Circulation – Cognition and Behaviour, also revealed a connection between fluctuating blood pressure and arterial stiffening, a common marker of heart disease.
High blood pressure has long been recognized as a risk factor for dementia. However, the study’s lead author, Daria Gutteridge, emphasized that little attention had been given to fluctuating blood pressure as a potential risk factor. While clinical treatments often target hypertension, they tend to overlook the variability of blood pressure, which can fluctuate over different time frames, including short and long durations, heightening the risks associated with dementia and compromised blood vessel health.
With approximately 400,000 Australians currently living with dementia, and projections indicating that this number may more than double by 2058 due to an aging and growing population, understanding the impact of fluctuating blood pressure on cognitive health becomes increasingly important.
The study involved 70 healthy older adults aged between 60 and 80, with no signs of dementia or cognitive impairment. Participants had their blood pressure monitored, completed cognitive tests, and underwent measurements of arterial stiffness in the brain and arteries using advanced techniques.
The results indicated that higher blood pressure variability within a day and across days was associated with decreased cognitive performance. Additionally, higher variations in systolic blood pressure were linked to increased arterial stiffness in the arteries. These findings shed light on the importance of considering fluctuating blood pressure patterns as potential early indicators of dementia and heart disease risk, urging a more comprehensive approach to blood pressure management.
