Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension stages, hippocampal volume, and cognitive performance in sedentary women with lower educational attainment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four women (40–60 years) with low education and physical activity...

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Main Authors: Sneha Ravichandran, Poovitha Shruthi Paramashiva, Rajagopal Kadavigere, Hari Prakash Palanisamy, K N Shivashankar, Baskaran Chandrasekaran, M. G. Ramesh Babu, Winniecia Dkhar, Dilip Shettigar, Sathya Sabina Muthu, Suresh Sukumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1219_24
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author Sneha Ravichandran
Poovitha Shruthi Paramashiva
Rajagopal Kadavigere
Hari Prakash Palanisamy
K N Shivashankar
Baskaran Chandrasekaran
M. G. Ramesh Babu
Winniecia Dkhar
Dilip Shettigar
Sathya Sabina Muthu
Suresh Sukumar
author_facet Sneha Ravichandran
Poovitha Shruthi Paramashiva
Rajagopal Kadavigere
Hari Prakash Palanisamy
K N Shivashankar
Baskaran Chandrasekaran
M. G. Ramesh Babu
Winniecia Dkhar
Dilip Shettigar
Sathya Sabina Muthu
Suresh Sukumar
author_sort Sneha Ravichandran
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: This study investigated the age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension stages, hippocampal volume, and cognitive performance in sedentary women with lower educational attainment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four women (40–60 years) with low education and physical activity levels underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scans and cognitive tests. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed using CAT12 and SPM12. RESULTS: Age-dependent relationships between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hippocampal volume were observed. In ages 40–49, higher SBP correlated with more minor left hippocampal volumes (r = -0.5937, P = 0.0046). In ages 50–59, greater SBP is associated with larger hippocampal volumes (left: r = 0.7040, P = 0.0002; right: r = 0.5885, P = 0.0031). Hippocampal measurements accounted for 48.2% and 70.3% of SBP variance in younger and older groups, respectively. Higher SBP correlated with poorer cognitive performance in Flanker (reaction time: χ² = 13.87, P = 0.003; accuracy: χ² = 31.36, P < .001) and N-back tasks (reaction time: χ² = 11.63, P = 0.009; accuracy: χ² = 22.20, P < .001). CONCLUSION: These findings challenge the “lower is better” blood pressure paradigm, especially in older adults, suggesting the need for age-specific hypertension management and brain health preservation strategies. Public health implications include developing tailored interventions considering age, education, and physical activity; implementing age-specific blood pressure guidelines; integrating cognitive screenings into hypertension care; and creating targeted health literacy programs. Future research should establish causality, explore mechanisms, and evaluate personalized strategies for this vulnerable population.
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spelling doaj-art-eca115b18b19462a99b8a7a63f32fe042025-08-20T02:32:16ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312319-64402025-05-0114118318310.4103/jehp.jehp_1219_24Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainmentSneha RavichandranPoovitha Shruthi ParamashivaRajagopal KadavigereHari Prakash PalanisamyK N ShivashankarBaskaran ChandrasekaranM. G. Ramesh BabuWinniecia DkharDilip ShettigarSathya Sabina MuthuSuresh SukumarBACKGROUND: This study investigated the age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension stages, hippocampal volume, and cognitive performance in sedentary women with lower educational attainment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four women (40–60 years) with low education and physical activity levels underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scans and cognitive tests. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed using CAT12 and SPM12. RESULTS: Age-dependent relationships between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hippocampal volume were observed. In ages 40–49, higher SBP correlated with more minor left hippocampal volumes (r = -0.5937, P = 0.0046). In ages 50–59, greater SBP is associated with larger hippocampal volumes (left: r = 0.7040, P = 0.0002; right: r = 0.5885, P = 0.0031). Hippocampal measurements accounted for 48.2% and 70.3% of SBP variance in younger and older groups, respectively. Higher SBP correlated with poorer cognitive performance in Flanker (reaction time: χ² = 13.87, P = 0.003; accuracy: χ² = 31.36, P < .001) and N-back tasks (reaction time: χ² = 11.63, P = 0.009; accuracy: χ² = 22.20, P < .001). CONCLUSION: These findings challenge the “lower is better” blood pressure paradigm, especially in older adults, suggesting the need for age-specific hypertension management and brain health preservation strategies. Public health implications include developing tailored interventions considering age, education, and physical activity; implementing age-specific blood pressure guidelines; integrating cognitive screenings into hypertension care; and creating targeted health literacy programs. Future research should establish causality, explore mechanisms, and evaluate personalized strategies for this vulnerable population.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1219_24agingbraincardiovascular risk factorscognitionhippocampushypertensionmagnetic resonance imagingneuroimagingpublic healthsedentary behaviorwomen’s health
spellingShingle Sneha Ravichandran
Poovitha Shruthi Paramashiva
Rajagopal Kadavigere
Hari Prakash Palanisamy
K N Shivashankar
Baskaran Chandrasekaran
M. G. Ramesh Babu
Winniecia Dkhar
Dilip Shettigar
Sathya Sabina Muthu
Suresh Sukumar
Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
aging
brain
cardiovascular risk factors
cognition
hippocampus
hypertension
magnetic resonance imaging
neuroimaging
public health
sedentary behavior
women’s health
title Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment
title_full Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment
title_fullStr Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment
title_full_unstemmed Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment
title_short Age-dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment
title_sort age dependent nonlinear relationship between hypertension and hippocampal volume in sedentary women with lower educational attainment
topic aging
brain
cardiovascular risk factors
cognition
hippocampus
hypertension
magnetic resonance imaging
neuroimaging
public health
sedentary behavior
women’s health
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1219_24
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