HBP May Impair Brain Functioning

According to Dr. Shari R. Waldstein, of the University of Maryland, elevated blood pressure causes cognitive impairments in older people.

Dr. Shari's research, which examined subjects over a period of seven years, found greater than expected declines in mental performace in subjects with elevated systolic blood pressure. Similarly, diastolic blood pressure elevation was found to cause the same effects, though low diastolic pressure also seemed to exhert some influence.

These findings emphasize the importance of controlling high blood pressure, which is known to increase the risk of other medical problems such as stroke and heart attack.