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Stress-induced blood pressure reactivity and cognitive function.

Shari R Waldstein1, Leslie I Katzel

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. waldstei@umbc.edu

Neurology
|May 25, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Greater blood pressure reactivity to stress is linked to poorer memory and executive function in older adults. This stress response impacts cognitive performance, independent of resting blood pressure levels.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Cognitive Aging

Background:

  • Stress-induced blood pressure (BP) reactivity is a physiological response.
  • Cognitive function, including memory and executive function, can decline with age.
  • The relationship between BP reactivity and cognitive performance in healthy older adults requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between stress-induced blood pressure reactivity and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.
  • To determine if BP reactivity predicts cognitive performance independently of resting BP.

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-four healthy adults aged 54-79 participated.
  • Participants underwent biomedical, psychophysiological, and neuropsychological assessments.

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  • Statistical adjustments were made for age, education, anxiety, and resting BP.

    • Main Results:

    • Greater systolic BP reactivity correlated with lower scores on immediate and delayed verbal memory recall.
    • Enhanced diastolic BP reactivity was associated with poorer performance on memory and executive function tasks (Stroop interference).
    • These associations remained significant after controlling for covariates.

    Conclusions:

    • Blood pressure reactivity to stress is linked to diminished cognitive performance in verbal memory and executive function.
    • BP reactivity explains a small but significant portion (3-8%) of the variance in cognitive measures.
    • Findings highlight the importance of considering BP reactivity in understanding cognitive aging.