Berlin.
A study shows the importance of diagnosing high blood pressure in young adults because of its aging implications.
Do you check your blood pressure regularly? A new one proves that this is more important than ever Study from the University of California, Davis. She shows that high blood pressure in early adulthood increases the risk of developing the disease later in life.
The study compared MRI scans of adults with high blood pressure between the ages of 30 and 40 to images of adults of the same age who had normal blood pressure. According to the results, the high blood pressure group had a significantly lower regional brain volume and damage to the so-called white matter. Both facts point to one thing dementia hin.
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Kristen M. George, co-author of the study, explains: “High blood pressure is an incredibly common and treatable Risk factor related to dementia. This study shows that the high blood pressure status in early adulthood is important for brain health decades later.” In Germany, a blood pressure of 140 to 90 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) is considered pathological.
The study also showed that unfavorable changes in brain regions are more likely to occur in men than in women. These disease characteristics are, for example, a reduced volume of the frontal cortex (cortex cerebri, Latin for cerebral cortex) and the gray matter. For women, that might be helpful estrogens better protect the cardiovascular system before the menopause (“menopause”).
Also read – Men over 50: What you should pay attention to in terms of health
The researchers looked at data from 427 participants. These provided them health data for different groups of people (Asian, African, Hispanic and White) from 1964 to 1985. The high blood pressure rate is about 56 percent in black adults, 48 percent in white adults, 46 percent in Asian adults and 39 percent in Hispanic adults.
High blood pressure in young age, dementia in old age
Finally, MRI images from the years 2017 to 2022 show which older participants have neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson, etc.) suffer. What is obvious is that a significant reduction in the volume of gray matter can be observed in both men and women with hypertension.
Professor Rachel Whitmer, also involved in the study, explains: “This study really shows the importance of early life risk factors and that aging well requires taking care of yourself throughout your life – Heart health is brain health.” (dw)
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