The association between pulse pressure change and cognition in late life: Age and where you start matters

INTRODUCTION

Variations across studies in the association between blood pressure (BP) and cognition might be explained partly by duration of exposure to hypertension and partly by nonrandom attrition over time. Pulse pressure (PP) reflects arterial stiffness which may better reflect chronicity of hypertension.

METHODS

Over six annual cycles, 1954 individuals aged 65+ years from a prospective population-based cohort underwent BP measurements and cognitive evaluations. We examined the relationship of change in five cognitive domains to longitudinal PP patterns across the late-life age spectrum, before and after stratifying by baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) and adjusting for attrition.

RESULTS

There were four longitudinal PP patterns: stable normal, stable high, increasing, and decreasing. Those with lower baseline SBP and an increasing or stable high PP had less decline in cognition, an effect that was attenuated with aging. Among those with higher baseline SBP, there were no differences across PP groups, but increasing age was consistently associated with greater cognitive decline.

DISCUSSION

The effect of PP on cognitive decline depends on age, baseline SBP, and the trajectory of PP change. Cardiovascular mechanisms underlying cognitive aging should be recognized as nuanced and dynamic processes when exploring prevention and treatment targets in the elderly, so that the optimal timing and type of intervention can be identified.

Effects of Blood Pressure Lowering With Different Antihypertensive Agents on Cognitive Function and Plasma Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels: A Comparative Study

PURPOSE

Hypertension is a risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI). However, the specific effect of antihypertensive therapy on cognitive function is still controversial. We aimed to investigate the effect of antihypertensive agents targeting the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on CI and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF).

METHODS

We included 62 patients who had been using the same antihypertensive agent for at least 3 months. Patients who had relevant conditions that could contribute to CI were excluded. After subjects were divided into 3 groups according to their current antihypertensive medication, the cognitive status of each patient was assessed by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). BDNF and plasma renin activity were evaluated.

RESULTS

There was a negative association between systolic blood pressure and MMSE independent of medication (rho = -0.251, P = 0.049). There was no significant correlation between MMSE and BDNF. The MMSE score was slightly higher in the non-RAS group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.09). There was also no significant difference in BDNF levels between study groups (P = 0.32). Mean plasma renin activity levels were significantly lower in the non-RAS group compared with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker groups (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that the essential intervention for CI in hypertensive patients is appropriate for blood pressure control.

Mid-life Cardiovascular Risk Impacts Memory Function: The Framingham Offspring Study

INTRODUCTION

This study incorporates unique error response analyses with traditional measures of memory to examine the association between mid-life cardiovascular risk factors and later-life memory function.

METHODS

The Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP), a composite score of cardiovascular risk, was assessed in 1755 Framingham Offspring participants (54% women, mean age=54±9 y) from 1991 to 1995. Memory tests including Logical Memory and Visual Reproductions were administered from 2005 to 2008. Linear and logistic regression examined the association between FSRP and memory measures. Interaction between the presence of the ApoE4 allele and each FSRP component on the memory measures was also assessed.

RESULTS

FSRP and the individual components of age, sex, and smoking were related to lower standard scores of memory. The new error response analyses reinforced the standard analyses and also identified new relationships. Participants with diabetes were found to make more errors on Logical Memory, and those with a history of smoking were found to make more errors on Visual Reproductions. Lastly, ApoE4 smokers experienced significant verbal memory loss, whereas ApoE4 smokers did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Middle-aged healthy adults with cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, history of smoking, and ApoE4 positivity were found to have greater later-life memory impairments.

Risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in CKD and hypertensive subjects

PURPOSE

Cognitive dysfunction (CO/DY) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients has long been recognized. Hypertension is also associated with CO/DY. The study describes associated factors with CO/DY in CKD patients compared to hypertensive subjects.

METHODS

Ninety-six hypertensive subjects without CKD, 19 patients with CKD stages I-II, 33 with CKD III, 42 with CKD stage IV, 33 on hemodialysis (HD) and 33 on peritoneal dialysis (PD) were included in our study. Cognitive impairment measured by MMSE, clock-drawing test and IADL was considered as primary outcome.

RESULTS

In all groups tested, age was significantly associated with CO/DY by almost all cognitive function tests. Among CKD patients, CKD stage and DM were significantly associated with CO/DY by all three cognitive function tests. PTH levels were also associated with CO/DY by MMSE and clock-drawing tests. In hypertensives, pulse pressure (PP) was associated with CO/DY by clock-drawing and IADL tests, while those receiving CCBs as monotherapy were less likely to have CO/DY by IADL test. For dialysis patients, DM was significantly related to CO/DY by MMSE and clock-drawing tests. In the same group of patients Hb <11 g/dl was significantly correlated with CO/DY by MMSE, dialysis modality and Kt/V >1.2 by IADL test. PD patients were less likely to present with CO/DY by clock-drawing test.

CONCLUSIONS

In every CKD stage, the risk of CO/DY increased significantly. Low Hb levels (Hb <11 g/dl) and increased serum PTH levels were associated with CO/DY while DM plays also a significant role in cognitive function deterioration. Among hypertensive subjects, those with PP ≤60 mmHg or receiving CCBs showed a better executive function.

Screening cognition in the elderly with metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome reaches its highest prevalence in the elderly, and evidence suggests that metabolic syndrome could be an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment. The aims of this study were to detect whether patients with metabolic syndrome have lower cognition and to investigate whether there is a relationship with cognition and single metabolic syndrome components.

METHODS

We assessed fasting blood glucose (FBG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and anthropometric measurements. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. The population sample was divided into two groups according to the presence of metabolic syndrome. Cognitive function was investigated through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

RESULTS

We enrolled 159 elderly subjects (mean age, 69.8±4.8 years). Seventy had metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome subjects had higher hsCRP values (P<0.0001) and lower MMSE scores (P<0.0001) than those without metabolic syndrome. MMSE scores were significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI), hsCRP, metabolic syndrome, the number of metabolic syndrome components, and each of them. However, at multivariate regression analysis, only fasting blood glucose [FBG; B=-0.046; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.066 to -0.028; P<0.0001] and the number of metabolic syndrome components (B=-0.317; 95% CI -0.572 to -0.010; P=0.042) were found to be independent predictors of lower MMSE scores.

CONCLUSION

We found that subjects with metabolic syndrome have lower MMSE scores than those without, even without symptomatic cognitive impairment, and that the number of metabolic abnormalities is independently associated to lower MMSE scores. We suggest that these patients should always undergo cognitive screening to prevent more severe outcomes.

Determinants of cognitive performance among community dwelling older adults in an impoverished sub-district of São Paulo in Brazil

Determinants of cognitive performance in old age have received limited attention in Latin America. We investigated the association of socio-demographic and health-related variables with cognitive performance in a sample of older adults with limited educational experience living in a poor sub-district of the city of São Paulo. This was a cross-sectional population-based study which included a sample of 384 seniors 65 years and older. Cognition was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB) (episodic memory test with 10 pictures, verbal fluency (VF), Clock Drawing Test (CDT)). Results indicated that age, sex, schooling, depressive symptoms, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) level had a significant impact on the cognitive performance of the sample. Therefore, pharmacological and psychosocial interventions with a focus on improving mood and controlling hypertension may have beneficial effects on cognition among seniors with similar socio-demographic characteristics.