Central OC Times

A recent study led by the University of California, Irvine, challenges the traditional understanding of risk factors for brain health in individuals aged 90 and older. The research, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, suggests that cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes do not increase the risk of brain blood vessel damage in this age group.

Dr. Ravi Rajmohan, UC Irvine clinical instructor of neurology and corresponding author, stated, “For decades, we’ve known that factors like high blood pressure and diabetes can injure blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk for cognitive decline and dementia. However, our research found that these patterns may change as people age.” He further noted an intriguing finding: "the use of blood pressure-lowering medication in this 90-plus group was linked to a lower likelihood of specific types of brain damage.”

The study examined data from 267 participants involved in the National Institute on Aging’s 90+ Study. Researchers used statistical models to analyze relationships between cardiovascular changes in the brain and self-reported vascular risk factors or heart-related medication use. They found no link between traditional risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes and brain changes.

Moreover, certain medications appeared to have protective effects. Diuretics were associated with a reduced likelihood of atherosclerosis while beta blockers and vasodilators were linked to decreased odds of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

“Our findings challenge the idea that traditional vascular risk factors are always harmful to brain health in the 90-plus population,” said Rajmohan. He emphasized that more research is needed to determine whether blood pressure-lowering medications could directly reduce risks under specific circumstances.

The team included Dr. Claudia Kawas, Maria Corrada, Annlia Paganini Hill from UC Irvine; Dr. Thomas Montine from Stanford University; Zeinah Al-Darsani from Temple University; and Chu-Ching Ho from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

This research received support from grants provided by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Consortium.

UC Irvine continues its efforts through initiatives like its Brilliant Future campaign launched on October 4, 2019. This campaign aims to enhance student success and health outcomes among other goals by engaging alumni support and securing philanthropic investments.

For more information about UC Irvine's contributions to education and research or access to media resources related to this study, visit their official website at www.uci.edu or news portal at news.uci.edu.