Dr. Adams
08-01-2008, 03:39 PM
"Controlling hypertension may remedy the mild cognitive deficits associated with the condition but will not normalize cerebral regional blood flow.
Successful treatment of blood pressure maintained or even improved mental function, but it did not change the efficiency of blood flow to the working areas in the brain.
Contrary to expectations, after a year of treatment, (there was no) difference from baseline in the magnitude of regional cerebral blood flow in response either to memory tasks or to administration of the vasodilator acetazolamide.
(Instead there is) a compensatory cooperation between brain areas, which seemed enhanced after treatment. Changes in brain organization related to high blood pressure were enhanced, not eliminated, when blood pressure decreased.
The results do not suggest any change in how patients should manage their hypertension. In the future, we may have to consider essential hypertension to have early influences on brain function as well as on peripheral blood pressure."
Hypertension 2008;52:65-71.
Successful treatment of blood pressure maintained or even improved mental function, but it did not change the efficiency of blood flow to the working areas in the brain.
Contrary to expectations, after a year of treatment, (there was no) difference from baseline in the magnitude of regional cerebral blood flow in response either to memory tasks or to administration of the vasodilator acetazolamide.
(Instead there is) a compensatory cooperation between brain areas, which seemed enhanced after treatment. Changes in brain organization related to high blood pressure were enhanced, not eliminated, when blood pressure decreased.
The results do not suggest any change in how patients should manage their hypertension. In the future, we may have to consider essential hypertension to have early influences on brain function as well as on peripheral blood pressure."
Hypertension 2008;52:65-71.