Blood pressure variability can affect cognitive function

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure can have an impact on cognitive performance.
Pulse pressure is the name given to the difference between systolic (top figure) and diastolic (bottom figure) blood pressure. According to a new study from researchers in Japan, pulse pressure can have some clinical significance. They looked at a group of over 500 patients and monitored their pulse pressure, while also giving them a battery of cognitive tests.

The results showed that - put simply - the greater the pulse pressure, the lower the cognitive function, especially in elderly patients. This is significant - for doctors often do not want to treat blood pressure aggressively in older patients, fearing the side effects of medication. This study suggests it may be worth making the effort, for the sake of the patients' cognitive performance.

Source
American Society of Hypertension meeting 17th May 2006