Poor vascular health may impair brain health in adolescents

What is it about?

It is well-established that poor arterial health can lead to cognitive decline in adults. However, there is limited knowledge about this connection in adolescents. To address this gap, this study examined the associations of arterial stiffness and blood pressure with cognition in adolescents and whether these associations differed between girls and boys. Adolescents with higher blood pressure showed poorer attention, learning, and overall cognition. Higher pulse wave velocity, which indicates arterial stiffness, was linked to poorer working memory. Interestingly, girls with higher blood pressure had a negative association with a broader range of cognitive functions compared to boys. On the other hand, boys with higher arterial stiffness demonstrated better attention and working memory. These associations were not affected by either physical activity or sedentary time.

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Photo by Mockup Graphics on Unsplash

Photo by Mockup Graphics on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our findings underscore the importance of preventing high blood pressure and arterial stiffening to promote cognitive and brain health in young people.

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