title: NT-proBNP, blood pressure, and cognitive decline in the oldest old: The Leiden 85-plus Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relation between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, used as a marker of heart failure in clinical practice, blood pressure (BP), and cognitive decline in the oldest old.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 560 participants of the Leiden 85-plus Study, we measured NT-proBNP levels and BP at age 85 years, at baseline, and global cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) annually during the follow-up of 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects in the highest tertile of NT-proBNP levels scored 1.7 points lower on the MMSE at age 85 years than subjects in the lowest tertile (p = 0.004), and had a 0.24-point-steeper decline in MMSE score per year (p = 0.021). The longitudinal association disappeared after full adjustment for possible confounders (0.14-point-steeper decline, p = 0.187). Subjects in the category "highest tertile of NT-proBNP and the lowest tertile of systolic BP" had a 3.7-point-lower MMSE score at baseline (p < 0.001) and a 0.49-point-steeper decline in MMSE score per year (p < 0.001) compared with subjects in the other categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the oldest old, high NT-proBNP levels are associated with lower MMSE scores. The combination of high NT-proBNP levels and low systolic BP is associated with worst global cognitive function and the steepest cognitive decline. Possibly, a failing pump function of the heart results in lower BP and lower brain perfusion with resultant brain dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands. P.van_Vliet@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Vliet
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabayan
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Liselotte W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Wijsman
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rosalinde K E
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Poortvliet
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mooijaart
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: de Ruijter
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacobijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gussekloo
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anton J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Craen
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics (P.v.V., B.S., L.W.W., S.P.M., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Neurology (P.v.V.), Radiology (B.S.), and Public Health and Primary Care (R.K.E.P., W.d.R., J.G.), Leiden University Medical Center; and Netherlands Consortium of Healthy Ageing (L.W.W., A.J.M.d.C., R.G.J.W.), Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: R G J
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Westendorp
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain