Elevated blood pressure

2 papers5 findings

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

On aging: the drug’s trials ARN judged to be about aging, of every trial that tests it for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

2 independent labs in 2 countries

Funder: National Institute on Aging

Humans2

Outcomes

Cognitive ability

no changein humans1

1 study

Elevated blood pressure has no effect on cognitive ability in humans.
“For cognitive ability, DBP at ages 38 and 45 showed modest associations with age‐45 IQ, which became null after accounting for childhood IQ.”
Humansafter accounting for childhood IQ
Early‐life blood pressure and midlife brain and cognitive health: tests in two birth cohorts
AAIC 2025 abstract23 Dec 2025

Retinal arteriolar caliber

downin humans1

1 study

Elevated blood pressure decreases retinal arteriolar caliber in humans (Beta = -0.09 [-0.16, -0.03]; p = 0.006).
“Only RAC were found to associate with BP from childhood (Beta for age‐7 DBP = ‐0.09 [‐0.16, ‐0.03]; p = 0.006)”
Humans
Early‐life blood pressure and midlife brain and cognitive health: tests in two birth cohorts
AAIC 2025 abstract23 Dec 2025

Associations

Cognitive impairment

upin humans1

1 study

Elevated blood pressure raises the risk of cognitive impairment in humans (2.31-fold increase (95% CI, 1.14 to 4.66)).
“each 10 mmHg increase in supine SBP was associated with a 2.31-fold increase (95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 4.66) in risk for impairment in psychomotor speed and set shifting”
Humansotherwise healthy elderseach 10 mmHg increasen = 70
Effect of blood pressure on cognitive functions in elderly persons
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences1 Nov 2004