Key points from article :
A recent study by Monash University found that people with high blood pressure who sleep less than six hours a night are at a higher risk of brain injury, faster brain aging, and reduced cognitive function. The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, involved 682 participants from the Framingham Heart Study, who provided data on sleep patterns, blood pressure, and cognitive health. Brain MRIs were conducted for 637 participants to assess the impact of these factors on brain health.
The study revealed that while short sleep alone did not affect brain health in people with normal blood pressure, combining high blood pressure and insufficient sleep led to poorer executive function and brain injury. This was seen in brain scans showing markers of accelerated brain ageing. These negative effects were not found in people with normal blood pressure, suggesting that hypertension amplifies the risks associated with short sleep.
The authors emphasized that sleep deprivation and high blood pressure are treatable conditions. They suggest that managing these two factors together could be key to preserving brain health and preventing cognitive decline. Participants in the study reported an average of seven hours of sleep, with 32% sleeping less than six hours per night.
The study also noted that obstructive sleep apnea was present in 16% of participants, and 25% used sleeping pills regularly. This highlights the importance of addressing sleep issues as a potential intervention for improving brain health, especially in people with high blood pressure. Researchers are now planning further studies to explore whether these factors are linked to dementia risk over time.
Overall, this research points to the importance of treating both hypertension and sleep problems as part of strategies to reduce brain ageing and cognitive decline. Given that one-third of Australians experience sleep problems, the findings suggest that more targeted screenings and therapies could significantly benefit public health.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
