How middle-age hypertension raises dementia risk later
London, June 13: A high blood pressure level but still below the usual threshold for treating hypertension can put 50-year-olds at increased risk of developing dementia later, revealed a study led by an Indian-origin researcher.
According to the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
People with a systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 130 mmHg or more at the age of 50 had a 45 per cent greater risk of developing dementia than those with a lower level at the same age.
The risk was 47 per cent even in people with no heart or blood vessel-related conditions.
"Our work confirms the detrimental effects of midlife hypertension for risk of dementia," said lead author Archana Singh-Manoux, Professor at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Paris.
The reason for the increased risk of dementia includes the fact that high blood pressure is linked to silent or mini strokes (where symptoms often are not noticeable), damage to the white matter in the brain, which contains many of the brain's nerve fibres, and restricted blood supply to the brain.
This damage may underlie the resulting decline in the brain's processes, the researchers explained in the study of nearly 9,000 people, published in the European Heart Journal.
However, the association was not seen at the ages of 60 and 70, and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) was not linked to dementia.
"Our analysis suggests that the importance of mid-life hypertension on brain health is due to the duration of exposure," the researcher said.
"So we see an increased risk for people with raised blood pressure at age 50, but not 60 or 70, because those with hypertension at age 50 are likely to be 'exposed' to this risk for longer," she added.
Another study reported in the journal Cardiovascular Research showed that higher risk of developing dementia in hypertensive patients occurs due to significant alterations in three specific white matter fibre-tracts linked to executive functions, processing speed, memory and related learning tasks -- brain areas associated with dementia.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
JD(S) MLA accuses Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah of 'luring' opposition MLAs
Bengaluru, Apr 12 (PTI): JD(S) MLA M T Krishnappa on Saturday accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of "luring" opposition legislators to join the Congress party.
"If I ask for a polytechnic college for my constituency, Siddaramaiah tells me to join the Congress party. Is it right for a Chief Minister to behave like this?" he alleged.
The Turuvekere MLA made the allegation while participating in a massive protest held by JD(S) against the Congress government here over recent price hikes and alleged corruption.
"It’s been two years since we became MLAs, but not even Rs 50 crore has been granted for the development of our constituencies. They don’t even allocate funds to fill potholes. All they do is loot, nothing else. This is a poverty-stricken government. Those who can't even fix potholes hand out Rs 2,000," he alleged.
Krishnappa further claimed that even if it takes another 20 years, he will still stay with JD(S).
"When we ask for a polytechnic college, they say 'join the Congress.' Why Congress? It’s a sinking party. Even if it takes another twenty years, I will stay with JD(S)," he alleged.
