A study led by the University of California, Irvine has found cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which are known to contribute to brain blood vessel damage in younger populations, not to be associated with an increased risk of such harm in individuals 90 and older. The work, published online today in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, suggests that the relationship among blood pressure, vascular health and brain aging is more complex than previously thought. "For decades, we've known that factors like high blood pressure and diabetes can injure blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk for cognitive decline and dementia.
However, our research found that these patterns may change as people age," said corresponding author Dr. Ravi Rajmohan, UC Irvine clinical instructor of neurology. Even more intriguing, the use of blood pressure-lowering medication in this 90-plus group was linked to a lower likelihood of specific types of brain damage.
" Dr. Ravi Rajmohan, Clinical Instructor, Neurology, University of California - Irvine Team members analyzed the relationship between cardiovascular-related changes in the brain and self-reported vascular risk factors or use of heart-related medications by examining data from 267 participants in the National Institute on Aging's 90+ Study, one of the largest and most comprehensive research projects on the oldest-old population. They applied statistical models th.