Work

Blood pressure reactivity and cognitive function in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Several blood pressure indexes of autonomic dysregulation, including stress-induced blood pressure responses (i.e., reactivity), have been associated previously with stroke, silent cerebrovascular disease, and decreased cognitive function. DESIGN: The authors examined the cross-sectional relations among systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reactivity and cognitive function in a sample of stroke- and dementia-free older adults (n = 73, 53% male, 72% Caucasian, mean age = 70.14 years) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age, education, baseline, and reactive blood pressure levels were regressed on cognitive test scores measuring the domains of attention, learning and memory, verbal functions/language skills, and perceptuo-motor speed. A Bonferroni correction was employed and results significant at the standard p < .05 level are discussed as marginally significant. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, education, and resting blood pressure, greater SBP reactivity was associated with poorer performance on Digits Forward (R2 = .110, p = .007) and greater DBP reactivity was associated with poorer performance on Digits Forward (R(2) = .124, p = .003) and the Boston Naming Test (R(2) = .118, p = .008); associations with DBP reactivity and Alpha Span (R(2) = .104; p = .019) and CVLT free recall short delay (R(2) = .066, p = .032) were marginally significant. CONCLUSIONS: Greater BP reactivity was associated with poorer performance on tests of attention, verbal memory, and confrontation naming. BP reactivity may be a biobehavioral risk factor for lowered levels of cognitive performance.

Source: Health Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/a0015215

Authors: Jessica P. Brown, John J. Sollers, Julian F. Thayer, Alan B. Zonderman, Shari R. Waldstein

Institutions: University of Maryland, Baltimore, The Ohio State University, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore VA Medical Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Language: English

Topic: Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging