Orthostatic hypotension and executive function in older people from the French MERE cohort attending a memory clinic

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is increasingly recognized for its potential role in cognitive impairment.
• However, the specific cognitive functions affected by OH require further elucidation.
• Executive functions are critical for motor control and are often evaluated using standardized batteries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between orthostatic hypotension (OH) and executive functions in the MERE cohort.
• To identify specific executive functions and their sub-scores affected by the presence of OH.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 1573 participants from the MERE cohort.
• Orthostatic hypotension (OH) defined by a blood pressure drop ≥20 mmHg systolic / ≥10 mmHg diastolic upon standing.
• Executive functions assessed using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and its sub-scores, including Luria's motor sequence.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse association was found between OH and the overall linear FAB score.
• OH was specifically associated with deficits in the motor sequence sub-score of Luria, indicating a melo-kinetic praxis disorder.
• 21.5% of the selected cohort (338 out of 1573) were diagnosed with OH.

Conclusions:

• Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is associated with executive function disorders.
• The findings highlight a specific link between OH and impaired motor sequencing (melo-kinetic praxis).
• Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms underlying OH's impact on executive functions.