Having high blood pressure may up your risk of cognitive decline, according to a new study from the National Institute of Health, which shows simply having risk factors for stroke -- not necessarily a full-blown attack -- may harm the brain.
The results, published Monday in the journal Neurology, come from the "Reasons For Geographic and Racial Differences In Stroke" or "REGARDS" study -- a multiyear effort to track stroke risk and cognitive decline among Americans age 45 and older.
Researchers found that simply having risk factors for stroke, including the number-one risk factor, high blood-pressure, and an enlarged heart, upped the risk of cognitive impairment among adults who were stroke-free and cognitively "normal."
And the more risk factors a person had, the greater his or her risk.
"There are a number of studies that back this issue of vascular health being associated with cognitive impairment," said Dr. Walter Koroshetz, deputy director of the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, commenting on the research.
"Here, there's a conscious attempt to work with a 'normal' population, or a population that isn't really worried about their risk," he continued, explaining that the strong association found between stroke risk factors and cognitive decline among these seemingly healthy people suggests maybe they should be.
In this latest analysis, researchers tracked nearly 24,000 participants, assessing their stroke risk using the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile. It takes into account factors like age, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking habits and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which is an enlargement of the heart. Researchers also tracked cognitive health annually over an average of four years.
Among people who developed cognitive impairment, age was found to be an independent risk factor, with each 10-year increment doubling the risk. LVH was also found to independently increase risk of cognitive decline by approximately 30 percent.
In a smaller, separate analysis, researchers found that high blood pressure also played a key role. Each 10 mmHG increase in systolic blood pressure -- the top number in a blood pressure reading -- was tied with an approximately 4 percent increase in risk of cognitive decline, prompting the study's authors to conclude that "hypertension may be a very important risk factor to address in order to prevent cognitive impairment."
The researchers found certain demographic risk factors for stroke, including ethnicity, were also linked to cognitive decline.
African Americans had higher risk of cognitive issues, as did people in the so-called "stroke belt," a region that includes Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Past analysis from REGARDS has put stroke mortality at about 20 percent higher in these states than elsewhere in the U.S., particularly among African Americans.
Koroshetz said scientists are not entirely sure what is driving such demographic patterns, nor do they fully understand the mechanisms underlying the association between vascular health and cognitive decline. Silent strokes and other brain abnormalities that often go unnoticed and undiagnosed may impact the brain's blood supply, putting what Koroshetz described as "wear and tear" on smaller blood vessels in the brain.
As research to better understand these issues continues, the takeaway message is one of prevention, experts say, particularly among people in their late 40s and early 50s who may not necessarily realize they are at risk. People should work with their health care providers to make sure they are tracking and managing the various elements of vascular health.
"The message for reader is, you may think you are 'normal,'" Koroshetz said. "But make sure that you have these risk factors under control."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.