The research contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that cardiovascular risk factors during early adulthood can have adverse effects on brain health in later life

A new study has shed light on the long-term impact of high blood pressure in one’s thirties, indicating that it may lead to poorer brain health in later life, particularly for men, by the age of 75. This research highlights the importance of managing hypertension at an early age, not only to prevent immediate health concerns but also to safeguard cognitive function in the future.

The research by the University of California, Davis compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans of older adults who had high blood pressure between ages of 30 and 40 with those of older adults who had normal blood pressure.

The study published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that the group with high blood pressure exhibited notably reduced “regional brain volumes and worse white matter integrity,” both of which are linked to the development of dementia.

The study demonstrates that the negative changes in certain brain regions, such as decreased grey matter and frontal cortex volumes, were more prominent in males. The researchers observed that these differences may be associated with the protective benefits of estrogen before menopause.

“Treatment for dementia is extremely limited, so identifying modifiable risk and protective factors over the life course is key to reducing disease burden,” said the first author Kristen M. George, an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences.

“High blood pressure is an incredibly common and treatable risk factor associated with dementia. This study indicates hypertension status in early adulthood is important for brain health decades later,” George said.

First author Kristen M. George is an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences. [Image Courtesy: ucdavis.edu]

In high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels, is consistently too high. A normal blood pressure level is less than 130/80 mmHg. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 47 percent of adults in the United States have hypertension. The rate of high blood pressure varies by gender as well. About 50 percent of men have high blood pressure, compared to 44 percent of women.

The research contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that cardiovascular risk factors during early adulthood can have adverse effects on brain health in later life.

“This study truly demonstrates the importance of early life risk factors and that to age well, you need to take care of yourself throughout life — heart health is brain health,” said Rachel Whitmer, senior author of the study. “We are excited to be able to continue following these participants and to uncover more about what one can do in early life to set yourself up for healthy brain aging in late life.”