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As we age, we become more likely to develop both high blood pressure and diabetes. More than half of all adults 65 and older have high blood pressure. And about one in five adults has diabetes. Both high blood pressure and diabetes can boost your risk of strokes, which can cause brain damage. For that and other reasons, both conditions can contribute to mental and physical decline, research suggests. New Research in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society To find out more about the effects of high blood pressure and diabetes on mental and physical functioning in older adults, researchers took advantage of an on-going study that followed more than 2,800 independent-living older adults (age 65-94) for two years. None of the people in the study had been diagnosed with cognitive problems such as dementia. The researchers measured the older adults' blood pressure, and checked for diabetes. These were measured at the start of the study, one year later, and two years later. At those same three points in time, the researchers also measured the older adults' abilities to do various mental tasks (such as remember information and reason), and asked them questions to determine how well they could perform activities of daily living (such as bathing, cooking, and managing personal finances). The researchers found that both high blood pressure and diabetes appeared to contribute to a drop in mental and physical function over the course of the two years. Those who had high blood pressure showed bigger declines in reasoning, and in their ability to carry out activities of daily living than did those who had healthy blood pressure levels. Those older adults' with diabetes showed bigger drops in reasoning and memory skills, as well as in ability to perform activities of daily living than did those who didn't have diabetes. What Should I Do? All older adults should have their blood pressure checked, and get tested for diabetes, regularly. Your health care provider can offer advice on keeping your blood pressure under control, or lowering it if it's high -- with lifestyle changes, medications, or both. Your provider can also offer advice on lowering your risk of developing diabetes, and keeping it under control. By preventing or treating high blood pressure and diabetes you may be able to lower your chances of developing memory and physical problems. For more information on preventing and controlling high blood pressure, visit http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=39. For more information about preventing and controlling diabetes, visit http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=29. The summary above is from the full report titled, "Effect of Blood Pressure and Diabetes Mellitus on Cognitive and Physical Functions in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Cohort." It is in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Volume 53, Issue 7, pages 1154-1161). The report is authored by Hsu-Ko Kuo, MD, MPH, Richard N. Jones, ScD, William P. Milberg, PhD, Sharon Tennstedt, PhD, Laura Talbot, PhD, EdD, RN, John N. Morris, PhD, and Lewis A. Lipsitz, MD. |
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