EFFECTS OF CHRONIC HYPERTENSION ON COGNITIVE-FUNCTIONING

Arterial hypertension and blood pressure Level are associated with mod estly accelerated cognitive decline over the adult life span and with moderately increased risk of poor cognitive performance at all ages. C orrelations between white matter lesions in brain and elevated blood p ressure provide indirect evidence that structural and functional chang es in brain over time may lead to lowered of cognitive functioning whe n blood pressure control is poor or lacking. Preventive methods design ed to lower population blood pressure, early detection, and aggressive treatment of hypertension are important to prevent accelerated cognit ive decline in the individual and to preserve cognitive ability in the population. Some evidence suggests that poorly controlled hypertensio n may predispose to the dementias, but more work is needed to ascertai n this.