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Blood pressure variability predicts cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease patients

Simona Lattanzi1, Simona Luzzi1, Leandro Provinciali1

  • 1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.

Neurobiology of Aging
|May 27, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Systolic blood pressure variability significantly impacts cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Monitoring this variability may help identify individuals at higher risk for faster disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
  • Vascular factors are increasingly recognized as contributors to AD pathogenesis.
  • The role of blood pressure variability in cognitive decline within AD patients remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between blood pressure (BP) variability and the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  • To determine if specific BP variability metrics predict cognitive decline progression in AD patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 240 AD patients was followed for 12 months.
  • Blood pressure (BP) was assessed using mean and coefficient of variation for systolic and diastolic BP.
  • Cognitive decline was measured using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Systolic blood pressure variability was a significant predictor of cognitive decline (decrease in MMSE score) after adjusting for confounders (p < 0.001).
  • Logistic regression indicated that higher systolic BP variability increased the odds of faster cognitive decline (OR = 2.882, p < 0.001).
  • Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated high accuracy (AUC = 0.913) for systolic BP variability in predicting faster cognitive decline (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Systolic blood pressure variability is a significant factor associated with accelerated cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
  • BP variability should be considered a potential vascular risk factor in the clinical evaluation of AD patients.
  • Incorporating BP variability assessment may enhance the risk profiling and management strategies for individuals with AD.

Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseaseBlood pressureBlood pressure variability

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