High Blood pressure is generally associated with heart attack and stroke, due to its direct relation to the heart. People suffering from high blood pressure have increased chances of suffering from arterial disease, heart failure or may cause death in the longer run. Heart supplies blood to all parts of the body including organs and unattended high blood pressure directly impacts the organs. The brain is the most susceptible organ when it comes to risk caused by high blood pressure.
High pressure, short memory
Memory loss is a term that is directly proportional to age. As humans grow old, brains begin to decrease in function. Not only age but illness and different medications can also lead to memory loss. The findings of the current research clearly demonstrate that hypertension can significantly affect the ageing of brain.
Mild cognitive impairment is a manageable condition, which does not exhibit any serious problem, but severe memory loss can be very hazardous in terms of mental health. It inhibits the normal brain functioning like memory, reasoning and judgement.
All studies conducted so far may vary in results, but one thing is certain that hypertension plays a significant role in increasing chances of contracting mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia. High blood pressure affects systolic as well as diastolic pressure and leaving it untreated may greatly increase the risk of initiating severe ailments.
Most numbers of studies are directed towards aged people in order to clearly understand the role of hypertension in the body. In one of the studies, 2,505 men between the age of 71 and 93 were surveyed and it was found that men having the higher systolic pressure of 140 mmHg had 77% chance of developing dementia in comparison to normal systolic pressure. Another study focused on people between 18 to 46 and 47 to 83, for the purpose of evaluating blood pressure impact on cognitive functions, found that high bp was proportionally linked to cognitive impairment over time.
Treat bp, prevent dementia?
The amount of damage caused by dementia is irreversible as the brain cannot be restored back to its original function, which makes it extremely important to understand the role of high blood pressure and its treatment in order to prevent dementia.
It is possible to prevent dementia by checking on the high bp. The following are the evidences
- A study conducted by European scientists revealed that chronic treatment of high bp can reduce the chance of dementia by 55%
- An American study showed 38% reduced risk from dementia
- One study shows that yearly therapy of hypertension can reduce the risk by 6%
- Another American study conducted on men and women found that regular therapy of treating high blood pressure can reduce 36% chance of Alzheimer’s disease. The same study also reveals that diuretics, a medication turns to be the most effective medication in the treatment.
- Another wide scale study conducted by Harvard and Boston University demonstrates that controlling high blood pressure over the period of 6 months improves the overall functioning and blood flow to the brain.
Never too late
Controlling high blood pressure reduces the risk of cognitive impairment, but does it really help to prevent any further damage done in the case of several ailments related to the brain?
The question is not presented with full credible evidence, but one study was conducted by the Italian scientist on 80 patients, suffering from mild cognitive impairment. The patients were examined over the time frame of 2 years, where they were treated for high blood pressure with medications. They found that there was 80% less chance to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease in comparison to those who weren’t on medications. Though these studies may not be enough to support the claims, but it can help future studies to explore and back up the findings.
Blood Pressure & its Impact on our Brain
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