Many young adults assume that they’ll have everything figured out by the time they reach middle age. However, by the time most people hit 40, it’s clear that aging brings a lot of unexpected changes. Two concerns that frequently come with aging are blood pressure and memory loss. An increasing body of research suggests the two are connected.
“In most cases, high and low blood pressure don’t directly cause memory loss or confusion,” says Dr. Robert L. Smith, a board-certified family medicine provider at Beaufort Memorial Palmetto Medical Group. “However, chronic blood pressure issues can damage the arteries that supply blood to the brain, which may contribute to memory loss or dementia.”
What’s Normal?
Having an occasional memory lapse as you age is nothing to worry about. You might briefly forget someone’s name, misplace your keys or have trouble recalling the word you want to use. It’s also common for blood vessels to stiffen with age, raising your risk for high blood pressure.
Worsening short-term memory, such as not remembering what you had for breakfast and decreased cognitive function, may be signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with MCI can usually do daily activities without help. But they may have difficulty problem-solving or planning out a new task. MCI is a risk factor for developing dementia.
Read More: Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s
When memory loss progresses and cognitive decline begins to get in the way of usual daily activities, a person may have dementia. Long-term memory loss becomes more common as dementia progresses. A person may not remember where they went to school or that they are married.
It’s often easy for you, your friends and your family to notice memory or cognitive changes. However, changes in blood pressure are usually difficult to detect without a health care provider’s help.
Chronic Blood Pressure Problems and Memory Loss
It’s common for people ages 50 and older to have high blood pressure, also called hypertension. This condition typically doesn’t have any signs or symptoms. In fact, it’s possible to have high blood pressure for years and never know it until it causes a medical emergency. Still, having uncontrolled hypertension can silently damage many parts of the body, including the brain, blood vessels, heart and kidneys.
This damage may prevent normal blood flow to the brain and raise your risk for MCI or dementia. The risk is highest for people with hypertension in their mid-30s through early 50s.
“Most people with hypertension never develop dementia. But the risk is still noteworthy, especially in people with early onset hypertension,” Dr. Smith says. “We’re seeing more and more people diagnosed in their 30s and 40s, so we want to help them keep it under control. Being diagnosed with hypertension in middle age increases your risk of dementia.”
Treatment can help counteract the negative effects of high blood pressure on the brain. Medications that lower high blood pressure significantly reduce the risk of developing MCI and dementia.
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is less common than hypertension, but it may still be cause for concern. Hypotension at age 75 or older has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. Swings in blood pressure from high to low have also been linked to a more rapid decline of cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Read More: Blood Pressure: A Silent Killer
What Comes First — High Blood Pressure or Memory Loss?
Complicating the relationship is the fact that memory loss and confusion unrelated to dementia can be signs of high blood pressure. Typically, sudden confusion and memory loss are symptoms of serious medical emergencies, namely hypertensive emergency and stroke, both of which are caused by chronic, uncontrolled high blood pressure.
A hypertensive emergency happens when your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher. Sometimes, but not always, a hypertensive emergency is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, a nosebleed and a severe headache.
Stroke symptoms happen suddenly and include:
- Changes in vision
- Difficulty walking
- Numbness or weakness in the arm, face or leg, often on only one side of the body
- Poor balance or coordination
- Severe headache
- Speech problems
Call 911 immediately if you think you or someone else is having a hypertensive emergency or stroke.
Know Your Risks and Take Action
Talking with your health care provider about your risk factors for blood pressure problems is an excellent first step in preventing related memory loss or dementia.
Healthy lifestyle choices can also help:
- Don’t smoke or quit smoking.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Find healthy ways to cope with stress.
- Get plenty of exercise.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Find a Beaufort Memorial primary care provider who can help you manage your blood pressure.
