Key result
Among older US adults with systolic blood pressure <120 mmHg, each 5 mmHg increment in diastolic blood pressure was associated with a 0.56-point higher DSST cognitive score (95% CI 0.09-1.03).
Why the study?
The role of diastolic blood pressure in cognitive functioning is under-explored in relation to levels of systolic blood pressure.
Is diastolic blood pressure associated with cognitive functioning across different levels of systolic blood pressure in older US adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=5,466)
Is diastolic blood pressure associated with cognitive functioning across different levels of systolic blood pressure in older US adults?
Mean Difference: 0.56 (95% CI 0.09–1.03)
Higher DBP may associate with better cognition at non-elevated SBP in older adults; leaves open whether DBP modification affects outcomes.
BACKGROUND: The role of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with cognitive functioning is under-explored in relation to levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP). METHODS: We studied 5466 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Blood pressure was measured 3 times manually with a standardized sphygmomanometer and averaged. Cognitive functioning was measured using the digit symbol substitution test (DSST). RESULTS: Participants were 60 years or older, 55% female, and 81% non-Hispanic White. Most participants had a DBP between 70 to <80 mmHg (33.7%), between 60 to <70 mmHg (29.3%), or <60 mmHg (18.8%). From multivariable linear regression analyses, each 5 mmHg increment of DBP was associated with significantly higher DSST scores among individuals with SBP <120 only (ß: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.09, 1.03). CONCLUSIONS: Among older US adults, at non-elevated levels of SBP, higher DBP is associated with better cognitive performance.
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Mathew et al. (2023) reported a cross-sectional. Diastolic blood pressure was evaluated on Cognitive functioning measured using the digit symbol substitution test (DSST) (ß 0.56, 95% CI 0.09-1.03). Among older US adults with systolic blood pressure <120 mmHg, each 5 mmHg increment in diastolic blood pressure was associated with a 0.56-point higher DSST cognitive score (95% CI 0.09-1.03).
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