Researchers at the University of California, Davis have found that high blood pressure in your 30s is associated with worse brain health in your 70s, especially in men. The results of the research were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
As part of another study, the researchers analyzed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 427 elderly people who had their blood pressure measured when they were 30-40 years old in 1964-1985.
The researchers found that participants with high blood pressure in their youth had significantly smaller brain volumes and worse white matter integrity. Both of these factors have been previously associated with dementia.
The study also showed that adverse changes in certain areas of the brain, such as reductions in gray matter volume and frontal cortex volume, were stronger in men. They note that the differences may be due to the protective properties of premenopausal estrogen.
Normal blood pressure is below 130/80 mmHg. by one estimate and less than 140/80 mmHg. – for others.