Blood Pressure and Dementia... Enough said...

BLOOD PRESSURE ARTICLE REVIEW:

Keeping blood pressure within normal ranges may help,

"Prevent dementia and may even benefit patients who are losing their mental abilities.”

If you don’t already know, I am completely obsessed with my blood pressure. I got diagnosed with high blood pressure a few months back and having been successfully weaning myself off my blood pressure medication with my own personalized therapeutic nutrition and herbal regime. Of note, I check my blood pressure every day (once in the AM and once in the evening).

A new study came out which showed that fluctuations in blood pressure may be linked to faster declines in thinking skills among seniors. This report was published in the Journal of Hypertension online on May 23^rd.

My specialty is seniors so I was immediately drawn to this study. Dementia in the senior population is not uncommon. However, as the years go by, more and more research is coming out showing and proving to us that dementia is more preventable and treatable than we think.

According to Qin, this study cannot prove that fluctuations in blood pressure cause declines in mental ability, but it adds to mounting evidence that these changes in blood pressure may have health consequences.

"Higher long-term variability in blood pressure readings predicted faster declines of mental function among older adults," Qin said. "Controlling blood pressure instability may be a potential strategy in preserving mental function among older adults," she suggested.

Researchers found that among older patients, those whose systolic blood pressure -- the top number in a blood pressure reading -- varied between doctor's visits showed more rapid mental deterioration and loss of verbal memory than those whose blood pressure stayed within normal range.  Yes folks (Dad)…  Keep your pressure under control!!

For the study, Qin and colleagues collected data on nearly 1,000 adults aged 55 and older who took part in the China Health and Nutrition Survey over five years.

Blood pressure was calculated from three or four visits to health professionals. Participants also completed a series of mental quizzes, such as word recall and counting backwards.

But high blood pressure and low blood pressure may both be damaging to the brain, she added. The goal is to try to achieve a stable blood pressure rather than have huge variations. Bottom line is you want stable, solid numbers. And Consistency is key!

Are you NUTS!

Are you NUTS??
 

 

Nuts, including almonds, are definitely back in favor as they are a powerhouse of nutrition.  Most nuts are a good source of fiber protein and healthy fats. You will see in the chart below that all nuts are NOT created equal. My two top favorite nuts are almonds and walnuts.

 

While almonds contain a significant amount of fat, researchers have determined that the type of fat in almonds, monounsaturated fat, is known to be a good fat. Almonds can be beneficial in preventing cardiovascular disease by lowering LDL levels, preventing after meal rises in blood sugar and may help you with weight control/weight loss.  Aside from healthy fats, almonds are an excellent source of protein and contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant; potassium, a mineral many Americans do not consume enough of; and the trace minerals- magnesium (my favorite), manganese and copper.  There are many ways to include almonds in your diet including almond milk, almond butter, and the whole nut variety.