BACKGROUND

Elevated blood pressure (BP) has been linked to impaired cognition and dementia in older adults. However, few studies have accounted for long-term cumulative BP exposure.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to test whether long-term cumulative BP was independently associated with subsequent cognitive decline, incident dementia, and all-cause mortality among cognitively healthy adults.

METHODS

This study used data from the HRS (Health and Retirement Study) and ELSA (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing). Cumulative BP was calculated as the area under the curve using measurements from wave 0 (1998-1999) to wave 4 (2008-2009) in ELSA and wave 8 (2006-2007) to wave 10 (2010-2011) in the HRS. Outcomes included cognitive decline, incident dementia, and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 7,566 and 9,294 participants from ELSA and the HRS were included (44.8% and 40.2% men and median age 62.0 years [IQR: 55.0-70.0 years] and 65.0 years [IQR: 58.0-72.0 years], respectively). The median follow-up duration was 8.0 years (IQR: 4.0-8.0 years) and 8.0 years (IQR: 6.0-8.0 years), respectively. Elevated cumulative systolic BP and pulse pressure were independently associated with accelerated cognitive decline (P < 0.001 for both), elevated dementia risk (P < 0.001 for both), and all-cause mortality (P < 0.001 for both), while a significant inverse association was observed for diastolic BP. Strong dose-response relationships were identified, with similar results for the 2 cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term cumulative BP was associated with subsequent cognitive decline, dementia risk, and all-cause mortality in cognitively healthy adults aged ≥50 years. Efforts are required to control long-term systolic BP and pulse pressure and to maintain adequate diastolic BP.