High blood pressure: mentally fit in old age

All content is checked by medical journalists.

MunichHigh blood pressure is an imposition for the body: the arteries become calcified, the risk of stroke, heart attack or kidney failure increases. But high blood pressure is not always bad.

That is true at least for the elderly. Because with you, a high pressure on the vessels seems to be good for your mental fitness. On the other hand, low blood pressure had an unfavorable effect, it promotes mental decline - especially in people with a weak heart (heart failure). This is the result of a study by Dr. Peter van Vliet and his research team from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.

600 seniors to test once a year

Almost 600 participants aged 85 years were examined for the study. For five years, the researchers documented the subjects' blood pressure and mental fitness once a year. Blood samples were also collected. Using a protein contained in it (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide), the scientists determined the cardiac output: the more marker proteins there were in the blood, the weaker the heart was.

Mental fitness was assessed using the Mini Mental Status Test (MMST), a neuropsychological test that is also used to diagnose dementia. Participants had to answer simple questions like “What year is it?”. In addition, they read, wrote, drew and calculated various tasks. The more points a subject scored, the better their cognitive abilities.

The role of blood pressure

To see how blood pressure affected mental fitness, subjects were divided into three groups: low (below 147 mmHg), normal (147 to 162 mmHg) and high blood pressure (above 162 mmHg). It was noticeable that test subjects with the lowest blood pressure performed significantly worse in the MMST test than the group with the highest blood pressure at the start of the study. The picture became even clearer after five years: "Subjects with lower blood pressure deteriorated mentally faster than those with higher blood pressure," the researchers write.

Heart health also had an impact: those participants who had a high protein value, i.e. a weak heart, did worse in the cognitive test.

Heart failure with a double disadvantage

The researchers also examined the combined effect of a weakened heart and low blood pressure: the participants who had a weak heart and low blood pressure did particularly badly mentally. "The combination leads to the worst cognitive abilities and the fastest deterioration," say the scientists. The heart failure is probably to blame for the low blood pressure and mental decline, suspects van Vliet and his team. With heart failure, the heart is too weak to supply the body with sufficient blood and oxygen - not even the brain, which is responsible for mental fitness.

Get heart failure treated in good time

That is why it is particularly important for people with a weak heart that they do not take their disease lightly, but rather have it treated early and carefully. Otherwise they could possibly lose their mental fitness in old age.

Heart failure and low blood pressure can be influenced by various measures: For example, a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet. Drugs such as ACE inhibitors and beta blockers can also help. However, drug treatment should be discussed with a doctor. It is important that medication is taken permanently and regularly. (vv)

Source: Van Vliet, P. et al. NT-proBNP, blood pressure, and cognitive decline in the oldest old. The Leiden 85-plus Study. Neurology, 2014. Published online before print August 20, 2014, doi: 10.1212 / WNL.0000000000000820.

Tags:  Baby Child menshealth home remedies