From The Drudge Report
CANBERRA, Australia — There are plenty of reasons to prioritize healthy blood pressure levels, but we can now add robust brain health to the list. Researchers from the Australian National University report maintaining optimal blood pressure helps the brain stay at least six months younger than a person’s actual age. Meanwhile, people with high blood pressure, even if it still falls within the normal recommended range, are actually at a higher risk of their brains aging at a rapid rate.
Study authors say participants with high blood pressure had older, less healthy brains and a much higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Even those with only slightly elevated blood pressure still showed signs of accelerated brain aging and increased disease risk.
“This thinking that one’s brain becomes unhealthy because of high blood pressure later in life is not completely true,” says Professor Nicolas Cherbuin, Head of the ANU Centre for Research on Ageing, Health, and Wellbeing, in a university release. “It starts earlier and it starts in people who have normal blood pressure.”
Usually, normal blood pressure is below 120/80, while optimal blood pressure is closer to 110/70.
These findings are especially concerning in light of another recent research project that concluded the number of people over the age of 30 with high blood pressure on a global scale has doubled.
“It’s important we introduce lifestyle and diet changes early on in life to prevent our blood pressure from rising too much, rather than waiting for it to become a problem,” explains cardiologist and study co-author Professor Walter Abhayaratna. “Compared to a person with a high blood pressure of 135/85, someone with an optimal reading of 110/70 was found to have a brain age that appears more than six months younger by the time they reach middle age.”
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE EFFECTS ON BRAIN MAY NOT START [UNTIL] MIDDLE AGE
Researchers examined over 2,000 brain scans conducted on 686 generally healthy patients between the ages of 44 and 76 during this project. Additionally, the team measured each person’s blood pressure on four occasions over the span of 12 years. All that data helped to calculate each person’s “brain age,” an indicator of overall brain health.
Prof. Cherbuin adds that these findings are particularly troubling for adults in their 20s and 30s because the impact of high blood pressure on brain health won’t typically appear until years later.
“By detecting the impact of increased blood pressure on the brain health of people in their 40s and older, we have to assume the effects of elevated blood pressure must build up over many years and could start in their 20s. This means that a young person’s brain is already vulnerable,” he explains.
Study authors conclude that all adults, even young adults, should regularly have their blood pressure checked.
“Australian adults should take the opportunity to check their blood pressure at least once a year when they see their GP, with an aim to ensure that their target blood pressure is closer to 110/70, particularly in younger and middle age groups,” Professor Abhayaratna concludes. “If your blood pressure levels are elevated, you should take the opportunity to speak with your GP about ways to reduce your blood pressure, including the modification of lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity.”
The study appears in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
DOES MELATONIN, ZINC, & ARGININE TREAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Bill Sardi writes, "Melatonin is the only agent that Dr. Houston has found to work to normalize blood pressure among patients whose blood pressure does not dip at night."
Elsewhere, Sardi points to zinc as the secondary ingredient to bring hypertension under control, "Zinc is the unexpected mineral that controls blood pressure as described in the medical literature but not heeded by practicing physicians." Further on in that article, Sardi makes another interesting point that "In a zinc-deficient population, excessive salt-induces fluid overload that leads to release of renin from the kidneys, a hormone that increases blood pressure."
If you're looking for markers, Bill Sardi has that too. "Age-adjusted data, reported by researchers at UCLA a few years back show any risk for death from uncontrolled hypertension doesn’t start till blood pressure is 160/90 or more among adults 55 years of age or older." Normal blood pressure levels are 136/88. Hypertension is absolutely something that needs monitoring. For one, it can lead to strokes. Scary stuff indeed. "The latest review of the medical evidence shows adults with 130-139 systolic pressure doubled their risk for a stroke, heart attack, kidney or heart failure compared to those with lower blood pressure." Pick your poison, or pick optimal nutrients to stay productive, look after the things important to you as well as the people important to you. Martie Wittekin is in alignment with Sardi on the value of adequate zinc to protect your heart.
Arginine, too, is another important remedy.
Arginine has been marching towards greater acceptance for treatment of a variety of cardiovascular disorders in recent published studies. The Journal of Nutrition suggests human studies begin using arginine among adults with high blood pressure, since arginine is required to produce nitric oxide, a transient gas that dilates (widens) blood vessels and helps to control blood pressure. [Journal Nutrition 134: 2807-11S, 2004]
Zinc is better absorbed in the presence of selenium; selenium releases the zinc in to your blood. And if you're looking for a thyroid supplement, getting zinc in combination with selenium and iodine may be the way to go for you.
And if you're looking for a thyroid supplement, getting zinc in combination with selenium and iodine may be the way to go for you.
