Hypertension hurts more than heart health
Hypertension hurts more than heart health
Controlling blood pressure helps keep the heart healthy, of course, but it may also help the brain age gracefully.
A group of Boston researchers from Harvard, Boston University and Veterans Affairs (VA) examined medical records of more than 350 older men who participated in the VA Normative Aging Study, which included neuropsychological tests.
As the men aged, their overall neuropsychological function declined. This decline was found to be significantly more pronounced among men who developed uncontrolled hypertension. Specifically, these subjects showed reduced verbal fluency and poor word recall compared to men with controlled blood pressure.
According to a press release from the American Psychological Association, about 60 percent of people over the age of 60 are estimated to have hypertension.
Sources:
“Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure Means More Cognitive Problems in Old Age” American Psychological Association, 12/4/05, eurekalert.org
