title: Blood pressure variability and dementia rating scale performance in older adults with cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined the relationship between multiple indices of blood pressure (BP) and cognitive function (as measured by the Dementia Rating Scale).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with cognitive dysfunction and cerebrovascular pathology in the elderly and is a known risk factor for stroke and Alzheimer disease. Yet, the mechanisms for the effects of CVD on cognitive function are not well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 97 nondemented older adults with CVD who underwent neuropsychologic assessment, and a 2-hour cardiovascular laboratory protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for age and years of education, results of hierarchical linear regression analyses indicate a significant positive relationship between a function of BP variability (SD of systolic BP divided by the average diastolic BP) and cognitive function (R change=0.042, F (1, 85)=5.434, P<0.05). No relationship emerged between any other BP index and cognitive function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to expectations, greater BP variability was associated with better, not poorer, cognitive test performance. These findings suggest that the relationship between BP and cognitive function is more complicated than originally conceptualized and requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA. tamatthe@kent.edu
authors.forename: Therese Anne
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Keary
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poppas
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.forename: Karin F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hoth
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors