High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are less harmful to adults in their 90s, new evidence has shown.
A recent study from the University of California has discovered that the brain health of the ‘oldest of old’ adults is not affected by cardiovascular conditions.
Lead author Dr Ravi Rajmohan said: “For decades, we’ve known that factors like high blood pressure and diabetes can injure blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk for cognitive decline and dementia. However, our research found that these patterns may change as people age.
“Even more intriguing, the use of blood pressure-lowering medication in this 90-plus group was linked to a lower likelihood of specific types of brain damage.”
- 5 steps to improve your cardiovascular health
- Drinking coffee regularly could lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases
- Cardiometabolic benefits of swapping saturated animal fats for plant-based fats
During the trial, the team of researchers assessed the health outcomes of 267 adults from the National Institute on Aging’s 90+ Study.
They looked at how the use of heart-related medications could affect the cardiovascular-related changes in the brains of the participants.
The findings have shown that some medications protected the participants from developing brain changes as a result of high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
According to the results, diuretics prevented the participants from developing atherosclerosis –the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls.
Meanwhile, beta blockers and vasodilators combatted the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy – a condition where amyloid proteins build up in the brain’s blood vessels, causing bleeding and cognitive impairment.
Dr Rajmohan said: “Our findings challenge the idea that traditional vascular risk factors are always harmful to brain health in the 90-plus population.
“Our findings may reflect the effectiveness of treatment for those conditions, or they could be influenced by survival bias, as individuals with untreated or severe risk factors may not live into their 90s.”
- Cardiometabolic risk in children increased by high intake of ultra-processed foods
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: new drug offers promising treatment
- Adolescents with low cardiorespiratory fitness at risk of not being able to work in adulthood
Dr Rajmohan added: “Further research is needed to explore whether blood pressure-lowering medications could directly reduce the risk of brain blood vessel damage and dementia under specific circumstances.
“Such knowledge could lead to more personalised advice for managing blood pressure and improving brain health outcomes.”
Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure can cause blood vessel damage in the brain of younger people, the research has reported.
To read the study, click here.
