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Hypertension Status Moderated the Relationship between the Hippocampal Subregion of the Left GC-ML-DG and Cognitive

Guiyan Cai1, Yajun Wang1, Ruilin Chen1

  • 1College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China.

Disease Markers
|October 26, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension in subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is linked to poorer cognitive function and reduced hippocampus volume. This study found hypertension status significantly impacts inhibitory control and attention, potentially due to hippocampal changes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an early stage of cognitive impairment.
  • Hypertension is a common comorbidity in aging populations and a risk factor for cognitive decline.
  • The relationship between hypertension, structural brain changes in the hippocampus, and cognitive function in SCD requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between hypertension status, hippocampal and subregion volumes, and cognitive performance in individuals with SCD.
  • To explore the moderating role of hypertension on the relationship between hippocampal structure and cognitive function in SCD.

Main Methods:

  • Participants with SCD were categorized into two groups: SCD without hypertension and SCD with hypertension.
  • Cognitive function was assessed using various tests, including reaction time (RT) measures.
  • Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to quantify the volume of the hippocampus and its subregions.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with SCD and hypertension exhibited increased reaction times in Go/No go, compatible, and divided attention tasks compared to those without hypertension.
  • A significant reduction in the volume of the left hippocampus and several of its subregions (e.g., subiculum, CA1, GC-ML-DG) was observed in the hypertension group.
  • Hypertension status significantly moderated the negative association between the volume of the left GC-ML-DG and Go/No go test RT.

Conclusions:

  • Hypertension status in SCD is associated with impaired inhibitory control and visual divided attention, potentially mediated by reductions in hippocampal subregion volumes.
  • These findings highlight the critical role of blood pressure management in preserving cognitive function and brain structure in individuals with SCD.
  • Future research should include healthy controls, detailed hypertension parameters, and employ longitudinal, large-scale studies for broader generalizability.
Abstract

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