Researchers from Wake Forest University have found that high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to impaired thinking in a woman later in life. Research published in the journal neurology.
Doctors reviewed the medical records of 2239 women (average age 73). Approximately 83% of the patients had at least one pregnancy. 100 patients had high blood pressure and 147 were diagnosed with preeclampsia or eclampsia. Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that can accompany damage to the kidneys or other organs in a woman during pregnancy.
Study participants took memory and reasoning tests every 15 months for an average of five years. Women who survived preeclampsia experienced more rapid mental deterioration during pregnancy than those who had normal blood pressure or had not given birth.
Eclampsia survivors dropped an average of 0.3 points in test scores, while others dropped 0.05 points over the study period.
More research is needed to confirm the scientists’ findings. However, the results suggest that controlling and monitoring blood pressure during and after pregnancy is an important factor for brain health later in life. Previous studies have shown that preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart problems.