L. Andre-petersson et al., A comparison of cognitive ability in normotensive and hypertensive 68-year-old men: Results from population study "Men born in 1914," in Malmo, Sweden, EXP AGING R, 27(4), 2001, pp. 319-340
Hypertension and its consequences on cognition was analyzed using data from
the study "Men born in 1914" in Malmo, Sweden, a prospective cohort study
of cardiovascular disease. The baseline examinations took place in 1982/83
where 500 men participated in extensive medical and social examinations. A
neuropsychological investigation was completed including five standardized
cognitive tests. The specific purpose of the study was to investigate wheth
er hypertension was associated with cognitive performance. By the use of mu
ltiple regression analyses, normal blood pressure and three stages of hyper
tension were analyzed in relation to test performance. Hypertension Stage 3
was associated with lower performance on tests measuring psychomotor speed
and visuospatial memory, whereas hypertension Stage l was associated with
higher performance on tests measuring verbal ability and constructional abi
lity. The associations were unconfounded by clinical manifestations of athe
rosclerosis, history of stroke, depressive mood, and antihypertensive drug
treatment.