NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TEST-PERFORMANCE, COGNITIVE-FUNCTIONING, BLOOD-PRESSURE, AND AGE - THE FRAMINGHAM HEART-STUDY

Interactions of three indices of blood pressure (systolic blood pressu re, and chronicity of hypertension) and age-cohort membership were exa mined for a sample of 1,695 stroke-free participants of the Framingham Heart Study, ages 55-88 years. Blood pressure level and chronicity of hypertension were assessed over five biennial examinations performed between 1956 and 1964, a time when few hypertensives were being treate d, and were related to neuropsychological tests administered between 1 976 and 1978. multiple linear regression methods were used to examine Age X Blood Pressure (or Chronicity of Hypertension) interactions in a lternative analyses involving three age groups (55-64 years, 65-74 yea rs, and 75-88 years) and age as a continuously distribution variable ( age in years). Interactions were either statistically nonsignificant o r trivial with respect to magnitude of effect. This was true when inte raction terms (Age X Blood Pressure Level or Age X Chronicity of Hyper tension) were controlled for blood pressure, age, education, occupatio n, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, gender, and antihypertensiv e treatment. The Age X Blood Pressure model as it pertains to older ad ults was not supported, but independent associations (with all covaria bles controlled) between the indices of blood pressure and cognitive f unctioning were statistically significant.