Throughout the years, doctors have always recommended keeping blood pressure in check to prevent stroke and heart disease. However, a new study reveals that low blood pressure may be related to bad memory. At least, this is true for people who have suffered with high blood pressure when they were in middle age.
Nonetheless, on the other end of the spectrum, researchers have also related high blood pressure in later years to increased risk of brain damage or lesions. People who were not suffering from high blood pressure during their middle years may in fact be at risk of greater brain damage. Brain lesions can also increase the risk for stroke and other nerve problems.
"Our findings bring new insight into the relationship between a history of high blood pressure, blood pressure in old age, the effects of blood pressure on brain structure, and memory and thinking," WebMD quoted study researcher Lenore Launer, chief of neuroepidemiology at the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
A person's history of high blood pressure proves to be crucial in identifying the relation between brain condition/function and old age. The study was uploaded and released online last June 4 under Neurology. Likewise, it is also necessary to check the connections among memory, thinking, brain changes and blood pressure levels. Studying the connection is more important than the cause and effect relationship of these factors.
There are two important points that can be drawn from the study: people who are diagnosed with high blood pressure can get better through treatment and people diagnosed with high blood pressure during their midlife and take medicines to keep it low must track their blood pressure later on. Too low blood pressure may lead to dementia if not properly addressed.
The research did not study the mechanism. Nonetheless, researchers believe that memory problems linked to low blood pressure may be due to less supply of oxygen in the brain.
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