TY - JOUR

T1 - Systolic blood pressure within an intermediate range may reduce memory loss in an elderly hypertensive cohort.

AU - Sacktor, Ned

AU - Gray, Sarah M.

AU - Kawas, Claudia

AU - Herbst, Jeffrey

AU - Costa, Paul

AU - Fleg, Jerome

PY - 1999/4

Y1 - 1999/4

N2 - The objective of this study was to determine if maintenance of systolic blood pressure (BP) within a high range or low range among treated hypertensive patients increases the risk of memory decline. Biennial neuropsychological evaluations were performed on 158 hypertensive subjects. Decline/year was measured on the Cued Selective Reminding test (total free recall and delayed recall) in three systolic BP groups (low—i.e., mean systolic BP during the follow-up period < 135 mm Hg; intermediate—i.e., 135 mm Hg mean systolic BP 150 mm Hg; high—i.e., mean systolic BP > 150 mm Hg). In total free recall, the three systolic BP groups had significantly different declines per year (P = .02), with patients in the high subgroup showing the greatest decline. In delayed recall, the three sys tolic BP groups also showed significantly different declines per year (P = .04), with patients in the low subgroup having the greatest decline. Chronically elevated systolic BP > 150 mm Hg is associated with accelerated memory decline compared to older treated hypertensive patients with systolic BP in an intermediate range. Chronically maintained systolic BP within a low normal range < 135 mm Hg in older treated hypertensive subjects may be asso ciated with accelerated memory decline, specifically in a test of delayed memory recall, compared to patients with systolic BP in an intermediate range. Optimal regulation of systolic BP may be a potential modifiable risk factor to prevent or minimize memory loss in older hypertensive patients.

AB - The objective of this study was to determine if maintenance of systolic blood pressure (BP) within a high range or low range among treated hypertensive patients increases the risk of memory decline. Biennial neuropsychological evaluations were performed on 158 hypertensive subjects. Decline/year was measured on the Cued Selective Reminding test (total free recall and delayed recall) in three systolic BP groups (low—i.e., mean systolic BP during the follow-up period < 135 mm Hg; intermediate—i.e., 135 mm Hg mean systolic BP 150 mm Hg; high—i.e., mean systolic BP > 150 mm Hg). In total free recall, the three systolic BP groups had significantly different declines per year (P = .02), with patients in the high subgroup showing the greatest decline. In delayed recall, the three sys tolic BP groups also showed significantly different declines per year (P = .04), with patients in the low subgroup having the greatest decline. Chronically elevated systolic BP > 150 mm Hg is associated with accelerated memory decline compared to older treated hypertensive patients with systolic BP in an intermediate range. Chronically maintained systolic BP within a low normal range < 135 mm Hg in older treated hypertensive subjects may be asso ciated with accelerated memory decline, specifically in a test of delayed memory recall, compared to patients with systolic BP in an intermediate range. Optimal regulation of systolic BP may be a potential modifiable risk factor to prevent or minimize memory loss in older hypertensive patients.

U2 - 10.1177/089198879901200102

DO - 10.1177/089198879901200102

M3 - Journal article

VL - 12

SP - 1

EP - 6

JO - Journal of Geriatric Psychology and Neurology

JF - Journal of Geriatric Psychology and Neurology

IS - 1

ER -