Low Blood Pressure Could Be a Culprit in Dementia, Studies Suggest

A study by Binghamton University researchers suggests a connection between low blood pressure and dementia, reports The Conversation . The researchers used a quantitative assessment tool for cognitive function in people older than 50, with a high school degree or higher educational level. The team found low resting diastolic blood pressure is remarkably common among participants 50 to 90 years old who have not been diagnosed with dementia or any other cognitive disorder. More than 85 percent of these individuals have below normal resting diastolic blood pressure, while 42 participants with below normal blood pressure have so far tested in the "below normal" cognitive function range. Even subjects with diastolic blood pressures well above the 60 millimeters of mercury threshold cannot support normal cognitive function when upright, and basically any resting diastolic blood pressure below normal signals that cognitive performance in older adults is substantially reduced. These findings are consistent with earlier studies on adverse influences of low blood pressure on cognitive function, even in young adults. Low diastolic pressure is mostly due to low cardiac output, and earlier research showed the soleus muscles play a crucial role in maintaining normal blood pressure during sedentary periods.