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Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
07:30

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

Blood pressure variability and cognitive function in older hypertensives

P Cicconetti1, M Costarelia, A Moise

  • 1Department of Geriatrics, 1st Institute of Medicine, University La Sapienza of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro, 5, I-00161 Rome, Italy. paolocicconetti@tin.it

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Supplement
|June 23, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Blood pressure variability does not impact cognitive function in older hypertensive adults. This study found no significant differences in cognitive assessments between groups with high and low systolic blood pressure variability.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Cerebrovascular damage is linked to both average blood pressure (BP) and BP variability.
  • Understanding the impact of BP variability on cognitive function is crucial for aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between 24-hour BP variability and cognitive function in older hypertensive individuals.
  • To determine if systolic BP variability affects cognitive performance and brain activity.

Main Methods:

  • Forty older, untreated hypertensive patients underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM).
  • Participants were divided into high and low systolic BP variability groups based on standard deviation and coefficient of variation.
  • Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and brain event-related potentials (ERPs).

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant differences were observed in MMSE scores between the high and low SBP variability groups.
  • N2 and P300 latencies in event-related potentials did not differ significantly between the groups.
  • Cognitive abilities, as measured by MMSE and ERPs, showed no association with 24-hour SBP variability.

Conclusions:

  • 24-hour systolic blood pressure variability is not related to cognitive function in older hypertensive patients.
  • These findings suggest that BP variability may not be a primary determinant of cognitive decline in this demographic.
  • Further research may explore other factors influencing cognitive function in hypertensive individuals.

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