Hypertensive Kids More Likely to Have Learning and Attention Problems

A University of Rochester Medical Center study has found that children who have high blood pressure are more likely to have learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than children who are not hypertensive. They are also more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI), an indicator of body fat.

The study shows that children with high blood pressure are four times as likely to have a learning disability and/or ADHD.

"Clinicians should be aware that these conditions commonly occur together," said Marc Lande, study author. "More studies investigating the potential association between high blood pressure and neurocognitive deficits are definitely needed."

In a previous study, Lande showed children with high blood pressure are not as good at complicated, goal-directed tasks, have more working memory problems and are not as adept at planning as their peers without high blood pressure. If they are both hypertensive and obese, they are also more likely to have anxiety and depression.

The new study followed 201 children 10 to 18 years old who were referred to specialists for high blood pressure. Of those, 100 were diagnosed with high blood pressure while 101 were determined to either not have high blood pressure or to have white coat high blood pressure (or normal blood pressure that shoots up when nervous in an exam room). Almost 28 percent of children with high blood pressure had a learning disability and 20 percent had ADHD. Some of those children had both a learning disability and ADHD, so in total, 40 percent of children with high blood pressure had a learning disability and/or ADHD.

Dr. Lande says, "This apparent association between high blood pressure and learning problems is particularly important in light of the recent increase in high blood pressure in children in this country that has occurred as a result of the dramatic rise in obesity."

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References:
1. Marc Lande, et al. University of Rochester Medical Center.