title: Influence of hypertension on neurocognitive domains in nondemented Parkinson's disease patients.
abstract: Objective. Health comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular risk factors, are well known to pose risks for cognitive decline in older adults. To date, little attention has focused on the impact of these comorbidities on Parkinson's disease (PD). This study examined the prevalence and contribution of comorbidities on cognitive status in PD patients, above and beyond the effects of disease severity. Methods. A cross sectional design was used, including neuropsychological data on 341 PD patients without severe cognitive decline. Comorbidity data were collected via medical chart review. Data were analyzed using a series of multiple hierarchical regressions, controlling for PD-related disease variables. Results. Overall sample characteristics are 69% male, disease duration 9.7 years, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale 26.4, and age 64.7 years. Hypercholesterolemia (41.6%), hypertension (38.1%), and hypotension (30.2%) were the most reported comorbidities. The presence of hypertension significantly contributed to domains of executive function and verbal memory. The cooccurrence of orthostatic hypotension moderated the relationship between hypertension and executive function. Conclusions. This study on a large cohort of PD patients provides evidence for a detrimental influence of health comorbidities, particularly hypertension, on cognitive domains that have traditionally been conceptualized as being frontally and/or temporally mediated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 101 South Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA ; Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 3450 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32607, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 3450 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32607, USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100277, Gainesville, FL 32610-0277, USA.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 101 South Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA ; Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 3450 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32607, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5994-0644
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 3450 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32607, USA ; Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, HSC, P.O. Box 100236, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Okun
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 101 South Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA ; Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 3450 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32607, USA ; Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, HSC, P.O. Box 100236, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowers