Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Alastair Webb, Imperial College London
- Second opponent: Professor Ellisiv B. Mathiesen, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Sigrun Halvorsen, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor II Anners Lerdal, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Håkon Ihle-Hansen, Vester Viken Hospital Trust
Summary
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cognitive decline, stroke, and cerebral small vessel disease, but the long-term impact of elevated blood pressure and the separate contributions of systolic and diastolic blood pressure to these outcomes among healthy individuals in midlife are not fully understood.
This doctoral thesis investigated associations between blood pressure at age 40 and long-term outcomes of brain health in a general Norwegian population cohort. Using data from the Age 40 Program linked to the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study, associations between blood pressure at age 40 and later cognitive function, stroke risk, and severity of cerebral small vessel disease assessed using brain magnetic resonance imaging were examined.
The collective findings were that systolic hypertension (≥140 mmHg) at age 40 was associated with over twice the risk of poor executive function in the mid-60s and over a threefold increased risk of stroke over the next 30 years, while elevated systolic blood pressure (130-139 mmHg) was not associated with these outcomes. In contrast, diastolic blood pressure (≥80 mmHg), including elevated diastolic blood pressure (80–89 mmHg) and diastolic hypertension (≥90 mmHg), was associated with more severe degree of white matter hyperintensities at age 70.
Together, these findings highlight midlife blood pressure as an important determinant of long-term brain health, supporting early blood pressure awareness to reduce the risk of future cognitive decline, stroke, and cerebral small vessel disease.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.