High blood pressure may speed up cognitive aging

Blood pressure has long been connected to heart health, and new research from the University of California Davis suggests blood pressure's effects may also extend to the brain.

In studies of young to middle-aged adults, researchers found that those with the highest blood pressure also experienced more rapid cognitive aging. Results were gathered through clinical assessments and brain MRIs, according to the study, which was published in a recent issue of The Lancet.

Patients suffering from hypertension often buy Lipitor or seek blood pressure lowering medications in addition to lifestyle changes. High blood pressure affects about 50 million Americans, and is associated with nearly half of cardiovascular disease cases and 62 percent of cerebrovascular disease cases. According to the UC Davis researchers, previous studies revealed that brain injury and atrophy increase with high blood pressure, and show an increased risk of dementia for those affected. Therefore, blood pressure may be an important determinant in age-related cognitive conditions.

Charles DeCarli, M.D. and lead researcher, told UC Davis Medical Center news that the results are promising for warding off cognitive aging.

"The message here is really clear: People can influence their late-life brain health by knowing and treating their blood pressure at a young age, when you wouldn't necessarily be thinking about it," DeCarli told the source. "The people in our study were cognitively normal, so a lack of symptoms doesn't mean anything."