Essential hypertension was associated with smaller prefrontal cortex and white matter volumes, increased frontal white-matter hyperintensities, and more perseverative errors.
Cross-Sectional
Does medically treated essential hypertension negatively affect brain anatomy and cognitive functions compared to normotensive peers?
Even medically controlled essential hypertension in middle-aged and older adults is associated with structural brain deficits in prefrontal regions and impaired executive function.
Untreated hypertension negatively affects brain anatomy and cognitive functions, but the effects of medically treated hypertension are unclear. The authors compared 40 middle-age and older adults diagnosed with essential hypertension to demographically matched normotensive peers. Volumes of 7 brain regions and deep and periventricular white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) were measured on magnetic resonance imaging scans. Performance in 4 cognitive domains (perseveration, working memory, fluid reasoning, and vocabulary knowledge) was evaluated. Persons with hypertension had smaller prefrontal cortex and underlying white matter volumes and increased frontal WMH. No group differences were found in other examined brain regions. Among examined cognitive variables, hypertensive patients committed significantly more perseverative errors. Thus, even controlled hypertension may be associated with deficits in brain structure and cognition, warranting further study.
Raz et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Essential hypertension. Essential hypertension vs. Normotensive peers was evaluated on Volumes of 7 brain regions, white-matter hyperintensities, and performance in 4 cognitive domains. Essential hypertension was associated with smaller prefrontal cortex and white matter volumes, increased frontal white-matter hyperintensities, and more perseverative errors.
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