Scientists from the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland discovered that adolescents with high blood pressure and stiff arteries may have poorer cognitive functions. Research results published In the journal Physiological Reports.
116 adolescents (45 girls and 71 boys) participated in the study. Their average age was 15.9 years. First, the subjects’ systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured using an aneroid sphygmomanometer (a modern mechanical blood pressure monitor).
After that, the scientists evaluated the speed of pulse wave propagation in each volunteer. This indicator reflects the time it takes for the pulse wave to pass through the arteries. This measurement allows us to evaluate the stiffness of the arteries.
In the third phase of the study, participants completed a series of cognitive tests on attention, working memory and learning ability.
The results showed that teenagers with high blood pressure and arterial stiffness performed worse on the tests. Scientists explained that hypertension is associated with decreased attention, learning ability, and impairment of cognitive abilities in general, and higher pulse wave speed is associated with impairment in working memory. However, girls with high blood pressure appeared to be negatively associated with declines in a wider range of cognitive functions than boys.
Additional large-scale studies using advanced brain imaging techniques are needed to find out which mechanisms underlie this relationship.
Previous medications that lower blood pressure to create dangerous side effect.
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Source: Gazeta
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