Researchers prove that high blood pressure and short sleep worsen brain decline. Scientists of the Monash University found that hypertensives who did not sleep enough, bear an increased risk of reduced cognitive performance and greater brain injury.
High blood pressure and sleep: how they found the link
To arrive at this conclusion, researchers assessed the combined effect of hypertension and short sleep duration on brain health. Hence, they used data from 682 dementia-free Framingham Heart Study participants. The latter completed overnight recordings, self-reported duration questionnaires, blood pressure and cognitive assessments. 637 underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Study of high blood pressure and sleep: the results
Those who had high blood pressure and slept short were found to have poorer executive functioning. Also, researchers identified markers of brain injury and accelerated brain ageing on the MRI. They did not observe these associations in people with normal blood pressure.
What is lack of sleep
Insufficient sleep is defined as less than seven hours. Participants to the studies reported sleeping an average of seven hours per night. However, 32% reported a short sleep duration of less than six hours. The researchers found moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in 16 per cent of individuals. Almost 25% reported using sleeping pills regularly.
“Inadequate sleep has been linked to hypertension and dementia, and though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, it is possible that short sleep and hypertension interact to increase the risk of cognitive impairment and vascular brain injury”, the study concluded.
The study’s senior author concludes
Dr Matthew Pase (on the image above) is the study’s senior author. He works at the Monash University School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health.
He said while short sleep was associated with elevated blood pressure, the combination of the two on brain health was unclear before this study.
“These findings have significance, given that over one-third of Australians experience sleep problems,” Associate Professor Pase said. “Importantly, sleep problems and hypertension are treatable. Addressing these factors may offer new opportunities for intervention to improve brain health.”
