Hypertension in young adulthood linked to cognitive decline in middle age

The research came to the conclusion that blood pressure has significant implications even in young adults and has placed vital importance to assess and modify for future cognitive function and mobility.

People who experienced relatively high blood pressure during young adulthood will be prone to significant declines in cognitive function in middle age, Northwestern University-Tel Aviv University study suggested.

The research stated that blood pressure has significant implications even in young adults. (Unsplash)

The research was led by Prof. Farzaneh A. Sorond and Dr. Simin Mahinrad of Northwestern University’s Department of Neurology and Prof. Jeffrey Hausdorff of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine, TAU’s Sagol School of Neuroscience and Tel Aviv Medical Center’s Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition, and Mobility at the Neurological Institute.

The study was published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation in March.

“We find that the deleterious effects of elevated blood pressure on brain structure and function begin in early adulthood. This demonstrates the need for preventive measures of high blood pressure even at this early age,” explained Prof. Hausdorff.

“We know that poor gait and cognitive function among older adults are associated with and predict multiple adverse health outcomes like cognitive decline, dementia, falls and death. Our study shows that the time to treat high blood pressure and to minimize future changes in gait and cognition is much earlier -- decades earlier -- than previously thought,” Hausdorff added.

Also, the study points out that gait impairment may be an earlier hallmark of hypertensive brain injury than cognitive deficits.

The research came to the conclusion that blood pressure has significant implications even in young adults and has placed vital importance to assess and modify for future cognitive function and mobility.


(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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