Optimal Blood Pressure Keeps Our Brains Younger

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cardiovascular Health
• Aging Research

Background:

• Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a leading global cause of premature death and a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.
• The precise timing of when elevated BP impacts cerebral health remains unclear.
• This study investigates the relationship between longitudinal changes in BP and brain health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate how a validated measure of brain health relates to changes in blood pressure over 12 years.
• To determine if elevated blood pressure impacts brain health across the entire BP range, not just in hypertensive individuals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a machine learning approach to estimate "observed" brain age (BrainAGE) in cognitively intact middle-aged and older adults.
• Assessed longitudinal associations between blood pressure and BrainAGE using linear mixed-effects models over a 12-year period.
• Included participants aged 44-64 years at baseline with up to four brain scans.

Main Results:

• Observed a progressive increase in mean, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure over the follow-up period.
• Each 10 mmHg increase in blood pressure was associated with a BrainAGE increase of 51-66 days.
• These effects were present across the entire blood pressure range, not solely driven by hypertension.

Conclusions:

• Increasing blood pressure is associated with poorer brain health, indicated by accelerated brain aging.
• Individuals with ideal blood pressure may have brains that appear significantly younger compared to those with elevated BP.
• Early and consistent management of blood pressure is crucial for preserving brain health across the lifespan.