Researchers Probe Link Between High Blood Pressure and Thinking Skills
Contact: Michael Robbins (207) 581-2051; David Munson (207) 581-3777
ORONO, Maine – Psychology professors Merrill Elias, Michael Robbins, and Penelope Elias are continuing their study of the relationship between high blood pressure and cognitive skills thanks to a $680,619 grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The project’s latest manifestation will utilize groundbreaking new technologies to achieve a more accurate measure of blood pressure.
The new technique, recently developed by researchers in Australia, uses ultrasound to measure blood pressure closer to the brain. UMaine psychologists will be working with Australian scientists to reassess their previous findings regarding the adverse affects of high blood pressure on cognitive performance.
The project will also focus on the relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive ability in long-term high blood pressure sufferers.
Previous collaborative work with investigators in England will continue in the project’s latest phase, examining the relationship between high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors ranging from diabetes to obesity. The interaction between blood pressure levels and factors that promote improved cognition will also be examined.
Ultimately, researchers hope that the study will lead to more accurate methods for measuring blood pressure and improvements in the treatment of high blood pressure.