Cerebro- and cardiovascular reactivity and neuropsychological performance in hypertensive patients.
BACKGROUND
Hypertensive (HT) patients are at higher risk of cognitive decline than normotensive individuals, because high blood pressure is a risk factor for mild cognitive deterioration. In this study cardio- and cerebrovascular reactivity along with cognitive performance was assessed on newly diagnosed HT patients.


METHODS
Diagnosis of hypertension was based on international recommendations. None of the patients had diabetes, and all of them had normal cerebral CT scan. Eighty-one patients (43.5±10.2 years, male/female ratio: 42/39) were compared with 94 healthy controls (44±9.4 years, male/female ratio: 50/44). In both groups continuous, non-invasive and simultaneous monitoring of cerebral and cardiac hemodynamical parameters were recorded during head-up tilt table testing (HUTT). Reaction time, attention and memory skills, anxiety and depression rate were determined by neuropsychological tests.


RESULTS
During HUTT significant differences were found in certain cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, total peripheral resistance index, stroke index), but no differences were detected in cerebral blood flow velocity. While there was no significant difference in reaction time between the two groups, tests estimating short-term memory (Digit Span Test) differed significantly. Moreover, sum of standardized test scores was significantly lower, while anxiety level was significantly increased in HT patients compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Decrease in neuropsychological performance along with alterations of cardiovascular parameters is an early manifestation of hypertension. Aim for an early intervention and accurate treatment is crucial for preventing further impairments.
Kovács
Katalin Réka
KR
Department of Neurology, University of Debrecen Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen, Hungary.
Szekeres
Csilla Cecília
CC
Bajkó
Zoltán
Z
Csapó
Krisztina
K
Molnár
Sándor
S
Oláh
László
L
Magyar
Mária Tünde
MT
Bereczki
Dániel
D
Kardos
László
L
Soltész
Pál
P
Bojtor
Andrea Burainé
AB
Csiba
László
L
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D018667:Tilt-Table Test