Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSHigh diastolic blood pressure linked to memory problems
People with high diastolic blood pressure are more likely to experience memory problems than those with normal diastolic readings, latest study results suggest.
As part of a large study on stroke risk, US researchers studied almost 20,000 people, aged 45 and over, for four years. Almost half of the study participants were taking medication for high blood pressure, and 7.6% had cognitive problems.
After adjusting for other factors that could affect cognitive ability, such as age and smoking status, the researchers found a strong link between high diastolic blood pressure and cognitive impairment or memory problems.
For every 10 point increase in the diastolic reading, the likelihood of a person having cognitive problems increased by 7%, they said.
The study found no link between impaired cognitive statuts and systolic blood pressure.
‘It’s possible that by preventing or treating high blood pressure, we could potentially prevent cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to dementia,’ the authors said in the journal Neurology.
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Readers' comments (3)
Iggy Dalrymple | 26-Aug-2009 3:47 am
But don't diastolic and systolic move pretty much in tandem? Saying that high diastolic is the culprit is like saying that it's not the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop.
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Iggy Dalrymple | 26-Aug-2009 3:47 am
But don't diastolic and systolic move pretty much in tandem? Saying that high diastolic is the culprit is like saying that it's not the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop.
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Tracy Wilson | 27-Aug-2009 7:32 am
Its true that high blood pressure causes various cognitive problems such as memory problems but these problems can be due to other factors also.Use Alistrol everyday which maintains healthy blood circulation and support cardio-vascular health.
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