Researchers from the University of South Australia have identified a possible link between daily and weekly changes in blood pressure and an elevated risk of dementia and cardiovascular disease. The study results appear in Cerebral Circulation – Cognition and Behavior, lending new insight into how blood pressure dynamics might affect brain health and heart health over time.
The research followed 70 healthy older adults, aged 60 to 80, who showed no signs of dementia or cognitive impairment at the outset. By monitoring blood pressure patterns, the team observed that greater fluctuations within a day and across the week correlated with lower performance on cognitive assessments and stiffer blood vessels. The stiffening of vessels is independently associated with higher cardiovascular risk, underscoring the potential dual impact on brain and heart health.
The investigators propose that variability in blood pressure could serve as an early warning signal for the emergence of cognitive problems or heart disease. At present, many hypertension management strategies prioritize lowering the overall blood pressure level while not explicitly addressing variability. If these findings are confirmed through further study, strategies aimed at stabilizing blood pressure rhythms could become a preventative approach to dementia alongside traditional treatments for high blood pressure.
Beyond vascular dynamics, emerging evidence points to the role of gut microbiota in blood pressure regulation. Some research indicates that certain intestinal bacteria may influence blood pressure levels in people with hypertension, suggesting a broader biological network that links gut health, vascular function, and cognitive outcomes. Ongoing work in this area seeks to clarify how microbial communities interact with cardiovascular and brain systems, with the hope of identifying new, integrative interventions that support long-term health.