title: Arterial hypertension: a cause of cognitive impairment and of vascular dementia.
abstract: Arterial hypertension is a well-documented modifiable risk factor for cerebrovascular disease and for both cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage. Recent studies indicate a relationship between high blood pressure in midlife and dementia in late life and suggest that arterial hypertension may represent a cause of vascular dementia (VaD). This paper has reviewed the main evidence of a link between arterial hypertension and vascular cognitive impairment or VaD. Brain lesions induced by hypertension, diagnostic procedures for early diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment in at risk subjects and the need to include cognitive assessment in patient's general visits in hypertension units are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Ipertensione Arteriosa, Ospedale San Vito, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paglieri
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bisbocci
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Di Tullio
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomassoni
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amenta
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veglio
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*