A stroke, which is also referred to as a brain attack, happens when the blood supply to a specific part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.

This can result in certain parts of the brain becoming damaged or dying. In some cases, a stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.

In the United States alone, more than 795,000 individuals experience a stroke each year, with about 610,000 being first-time occurrences. Nearly one in four strokes, or approximately 185,000, happens to individuals who have already had a previous stroke. Ischemic strokes, which occur when blood flow to the brain is obstructed, account for roughly 87% of all strokes.

Stroke is a major contributor to long-term disability, and it limits mobility in over 50% of stroke survivors aged 65 and above.

However, intensive blood pressure treatment has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of adverse cerebrovascular events, including stroke.

Recently, new research from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has provided evidence that maintaining consistently lower blood pressure can benefit the brain.

According to the new analysis published in JAMA Network Open, lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mm Hg is more effective in maintaining brain health compared to the standard treatment goal of less than 140 mm Hg.

The study is a follow-up analysis of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), a multicenter clinical trial that compared intensive systolic blood pressure control to standard control in individuals aged 50 or older with hypertension but without diabetes or a history of stroke.

The corresponding author of the study, Mohamad Habes, Ph.D., who is also an assistant professor of radiology and director of the neuroimaging core at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, says that their study shows “that lowering systolic blood pressure to below 120 mm Hg is more effective in preserving brain health compared to standard treatment goals.”

The Biggs Institute at UT Health San Antonio, in partnership with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is Texas’ sole Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) with a National Institute on Aging designation.

According to Habes, patients who underwent intensive blood pressure treatment displayed reduced white matter lesions in both the frontal and posterior deep white matter, as well as improved blood flow.

These findings suggest an overall improvement in brain health. White matter lesions are one of the changes that may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease, non-Alzheimer’s disease cognitive impairment, and advanced brain aging.

The study highlights the potential of intensive blood pressure treatment to slow down vascular brain injury, which may help preserve cognitive function in older adults.

Tanweer Rashid, Ph.D., of the Biggs Institute’s neuroimage analytics laboratory and neuroimaging core, notes that the research demonstrates how this type of treatment can contribute to the preservation of brain health.

These findings show “that specific areas have greater benefit, representing sensitive regions to track in future trials evaluating small-vessel disease,” Rashid adds.

According to Habes, the paper recognizes the significance of additional research to establish the most effective blood pressure targets and treatment approaches for different population groups. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of examining the potential adverse effects of intensive blood pressure treatment.

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