High blood pressure in young adults linked to smaller brain size and dementia

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Adults who were diagnosed with hypertension between the ages of 35 and 44 had smaller brains and were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than adults their age with normal blood pressure, according to a study published Monday in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. .

Adults under 35 had the greatest reductions in brain volume compared to adults their age without high blood pressure, which could have adverse health effects, said Dr James Galvin, professor of neurology at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami in Florida. He did not participate in the study.

“The smaller brain volumes in younger people due to their high blood pressure can put them at a higher risk for dementia as they get older,” he said.

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 11,399 people aged 55 and under who were diagnosed with high blood pressure as well as 11,399 people without hypertension. Information on the participants came from UK Biobank, an anonymous health information database of about half a million people. The study authors followed up with participants an average of 11.9 years later to see if they had actually been diagnosed with dementia.

Hypertension is common in adults aged 45 to 64 and is associated with brain health and dementia later in life, but little is known about how the age at which hypertension is. diagnosed affects these associations, study lead author Dr Mingguang He, professor of ophthalmic epidemiology at the University of Melbourne in Australia, said in a statement.

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“If proven, it would provide important evidence to suggest earlier intervention to delay the onset of hypertension, which may, in turn, be beneficial in preventing dementia,” he said. declared.

Having a smaller brain volume means there is a loss of neurons and the connections they have with each other, said Donna Arnett, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky at Lexington, who did not participate in the study.

Larger brain volumes are associated with better cognitive function, while loss of brain volume is associated with the development of dementia, Galvin said. Over time, hypertension impacts blood flow to the brain and can potentially damage the structure of the brain, he explained. If left untreated, it affects brain function, Galvin added.

Over time, young people may be more affected as they face longer life-long cerebral blood pressure, Arnett said.

Prevent hypertension at any age

Taking care of brain health from an early age is important to prevent hypertension, which could have adverse health effects, such as decreased brain size and dementia, Arnett said.

Getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet can help lower high blood pressure, said Dr. Glen Finney, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, who was not in the study.
Part of a healthy diet includes moderating alcohol consumption and keeping blood sugar levels within the normal range for your age, he said. Reducing your salt intake can also help lower blood pressure, Galvin added.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, Galvin recommended talking to your doctor about taking blood pressure medication.

Reducing other risk factors for dementia such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking also decreases the risk of developing dementia, Galvin said.

This study reaffirms the importance for young people to get regular check-ups and take good care of their health from an early age, noted Finney.

If you notice any changes in memory, thinking, or behavior as you age, let a healthcare professional know, he added.

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