Untreated elevated blood pressure in men was associated with poorer performance on learning and memory tests compared to matched normotensive controls.
Case-Control (n=40)
Does untreated blood pressure elevation impair learning and memory function in men?
Untreated elevated blood pressure is associated with poorer learning and memory performance in men.
Learning and memory processes were compared in 20 men with untreated blood pressure elevation and 20 normotensive control subjects matched for age, education, and average alcohol consumption. Subjects were identified from a larger sample of 469 factory workers who had participated in an epidemiologic investigation. Three measures (e.g., Symbol-Digit Learning Test Ryan & Butters, 1980 and Visual Reproductions-Immediate and Delayed Recall Wechsler, 1945 ) from a previously administered test battery were chosen for comparison on the basis of statistical power calculations. Results indicate that relative to normotensive control subjects, men with elevated blood pressure performed more poorly on all three tests. These results are independent of other known influences on neuropsychological performance and are likely a consequence of elevated blood pressure.
Waldstein et al. (Tue,) conducted a case-control in Untreated blood pressure elevation (n=40). Untreated blood pressure elevation vs. Normotensive control subjects was evaluated on Performance on learning and memory tests (Symbol-Digit Learning Test and Visual Reproductions-Immediate and Delayed Recall). Untreated elevated blood pressure in men was associated with poorer performance on learning and memory tests compared to matched normotensive controls.