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Low systolic blood pressure is associated with impaired cognitive function in the oldest old: longitudinal observations in a population-based sample 80 years and older

Nilsson, Sven E. ; Read, Sanna ; Berg, Stig ; Johansson, Boo ; Melander, Arne LU and Lindblad, Ulf LU (2007) In Aging clinical and experimental research 19(1). p.41-47
Abstract
Background and aims: The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether there is an association between blood pressure and the risk of subsequent cognitive decline in the oldest old. Various factors associated with blood pressure and cognitive function were considered. Methods: The study comprised 599 individuals of a population-based sample, 199 men (mean age at baseline 82.8 years, range 80-95) and 400 women (mean age at baseline 83.3 years, range 80-100). Cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). For a subgroup of 385 subjects (130 men, 255 women), data were available on blood pressure and MMSE at baseline and two follow-ups at two-year intervals. Baseline blood pressure was studied in one... (More)
Background and aims: The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether there is an association between blood pressure and the risk of subsequent cognitive decline in the oldest old. Various factors associated with blood pressure and cognitive function were considered. Methods: The study comprised 599 individuals of a population-based sample, 199 men (mean age at baseline 82.8 years, range 80-95) and 400 women (mean age at baseline 83.3 years, range 80-100). Cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). For a subgroup of 385 subjects (130 men, 255 women), data were available on blood pressure and MMSE at baseline and two follow-ups at two-year intervals. Baseline blood pressure was studied in one group with reduced cognition and in another group with intact cognition across the following four years. The association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) with the MMSE score through the follow-up period was analysed controlling for frailty (time to death), age, gender, apoprotein E, homocysteine, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Results: A medical history of arterial hypertension was associated with lower MMSE scores and a higher prevalence of dementia and cognitive decline at baseline. However, intact cognition through the observation period was associated with higher baseline SBP. This relationship also remained when the frailty of aging subjects, indicated by remaining time to death, was taken into account. Conclusions: Lower SBP in the oldest old is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment even after adjustment for compromised vitality. In late life, the risk of cognitive decline needs to be considered in clinical practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
ApoE, cognitive function, dementia, homocysteine, elderly, hypertension, blood pressure, MMSE
in
Aging clinical and experimental research
volume
19
issue
1
pages
41 - 47
publisher
Kurtis
external identifiers
  • wos:000245258100008
  • scopus:34047235497
ISSN
1720-8319
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3868357a-12dc-43fc-9ac3-2d36893ca8cd (old id 668603)
alternative location
http://www.kurtis.it/abs/index.cfm?id_articolo_numero=3411
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:22:53
date last changed
2022-04-15 04:12:26
@article{3868357a-12dc-43fc-9ac3-2d36893ca8cd,
  abstract     = {{Background and aims: The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether there is an association between blood pressure and the risk of subsequent cognitive decline in the oldest old. Various factors associated with blood pressure and cognitive function were considered. Methods: The study comprised 599 individuals of a population-based sample, 199 men (mean age at baseline 82.8 years, range 80-95) and 400 women (mean age at baseline 83.3 years, range 80-100). Cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). For a subgroup of 385 subjects (130 men, 255 women), data were available on blood pressure and MMSE at baseline and two follow-ups at two-year intervals. Baseline blood pressure was studied in one group with reduced cognition and in another group with intact cognition across the following four years. The association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) with the MMSE score through the follow-up period was analysed controlling for frailty (time to death), age, gender, apoprotein E, homocysteine, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Results: A medical history of arterial hypertension was associated with lower MMSE scores and a higher prevalence of dementia and cognitive decline at baseline. However, intact cognition through the observation period was associated with higher baseline SBP. This relationship also remained when the frailty of aging subjects, indicated by remaining time to death, was taken into account. Conclusions: Lower SBP in the oldest old is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment even after adjustment for compromised vitality. In late life, the risk of cognitive decline needs to be considered in clinical practice.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Sven E. and Read, Sanna and Berg, Stig and Johansson, Boo and Melander, Arne and Lindblad, Ulf}},
  issn         = {{1720-8319}},
  keywords     = {{ApoE; cognitive function; dementia; homocysteine; elderly; hypertension; blood pressure; MMSE}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{41--47}},
  publisher    = {{Kurtis}},
  series       = {{Aging clinical and experimental research}},
  title        = {{Low systolic blood pressure is associated with impaired cognitive function in the oldest old: longitudinal observations in a population-based sample 80 years and older}},
  url          = {{http://www.kurtis.it/abs/index.cfm?id_articolo_numero=3411}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}