Nighttime systolic blood pressure reduction rate and periventricular white matter hyperintensity were associated with cognitive function in Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nighttime systolic blood pressure (NSBP) reduction rate, white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and cognitive function in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

METHODS

All PD participants underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor and MRI, with the volumes of WMHs quantified. Participants were categorized into normal dipping and non-dipping groups based on dipping patterns, as well as dementia and non-dementia groups according to a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of less than 20. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for cognitive function.

RESULTS

Compared to normal dippers (n = 13), non-dippers (n = 39) showed significantly lower MoCA scores, higher volumes of periventricular WMH, ratios of periventricular WMH to white matter (WM), and ratios of deep WMH to WM (P = 0.027; 0.015; 0.011; 0.023). Moreover, the ratios of juxtaventricular WMH to WM, periventricular WMH to WM, and deep WMH to WM in the dementia group were significantly higher than those in the non-dementia group (P = 0.003; 0.001; 0.011). Regression analysis revealed that education and NSBP reduction rate were independent protective factors (OR = 4.107, P < 0.001; OR = 2.062, P = 0.045), whereas ratio of periventricular WMH to WM was an independent risk factor (OR= -2.640; P = 0.011) for cognitive function in PD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

NSBP reduction rate and ratio of periventricular WMH to periventricular WM were associated with cognitive function in PD patients. Reduced NSBP reduction may contribute to the development of WMH and consequent cognitive impairment in PD patients.