Hey there! So, scientists did this study, right? They wanted to figure out if some medical stuff like heart rate and blood pressure could be linked to Alzheimer's and other brain issues. They looked at a bunch of data and did some tests to see if there is a connection between these effects. It's enough intriguing because understanding this link could help us spot Alzheimer's early on. Keep an eye out for further exploration on this!
Background
Alright, let's break it down! Some smart folks did studies and found a connection between heart issues and the risk of Alzheimer's and related dementias (ADRD). They suggested a way to spot folks who might be at a higher risk of having memory problems.
One big thing linked to ADRD is having a wonky blood pressure over time. But, getting this blood pressure data is a bit tricky. Most doctors don't use the super accurate methods needed to measure it. So, the question is, can we still use the not-so-perfect data from regular checkups to predict the risk of ADRD?
While it sounds good, we're not sure if the info we get from regular blood pressure checks can really tell us much about the risk of ADRD in a normal doctor's office. Apart from blood pressure, another thing to check is heart rate variability (HRV). Unlike blood pressure, we can get HRV data from a shorter time. Some study called MESA found that having a higher HRV is linked to better memory skills. But, checking your heart with an electrocardiogram (EKG) doesn't happen as often as checking blood pressure.
To stop Alzheimer's and related issues, we need tools that don't cost a ton and are good at finding people at risk. This way, doctors can catch memory problems early and plan treatments that work. It's all about giving folks more time to fight against the memory game.
About the Study
For the study cohort, the age, sex, smoking status, and ethnicity of the selected participants were obtained. Furthermore, information about the comorbidities of the participants, such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation or flutter, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, heart failure, cancer metastases, and stroke, was collected.
Participants with a history of ADRD or less than 18 years of age were excluded from the cohort. From this cohort, patients with HRV were identified based on EKG reports. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the selected participants were obtained to estimate BPV.
Study Findings
A total of 48,204 patients fulfilled all eligibility criteria and were considered in this study. Although blood pressure measurements were obtained for all patients, EKG of only 7270 patients were noted.
The average age of participants in the blood pressure cohort was 54.9 years, and most of this cohort was female. Several comorbidities commonly prevailed in this cohort, namely, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, kidney disease, and coronary artery disease. During the clinical assessment period, each patient had an average of 15.4 blood pressure measurements. Their mean SBP was ~124 mmHg, and DBP was ~73.8 ± 7.2 mmHg. Around 28.1% of the cohort was prescribed with at least one antihypertensive drug.
The average age of the EKG cohort was 68.1 years, and the majority of participants of this cohort were female. The most common comorbid condition identified in the EKG cohort was coronary artery disease, followed by heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation/flutter. Participants underwent around 23.9 blood pressure measurements in the clinical assessment period, and average SBP and DBP were estimated to be 11.8 mmHg and 73 mmHg, respectively. In this cohort, 46.1% of participants were prescribed at least one antihypertensive medication.
The average age of the EKG cohort was 68.1 years, and the majority of participants of this cohort were female. The most common comorbid condition identified in the EKG cohort was coronary artery disease, followed by heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation/flutter. Participants underwent around 23.9 blood pressure measurements in the clinical assessment period, and average SBP and DBP were estimated to be 11.8 mmHg and 73 mmHg, respectively. In this cohort, 46.1% of participants were prescribed at least one antihypertensive medication.
Conclusions
- Ebinger, J. E. et al. (2024) Blood pressure variability supersedes heart rate variability as a real-world measure of dementia risk. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-11. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52406-8, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-52406-8
Written by
Dr. Priyom Bose
Priyom holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Madras, India. She is an active researcher and an experienced science writer. Priyom has also co-authored several original research articles that have been published in reputed peer-reviewed journals. She is also an avid reader and an amateur photographer.