Altered diurnal variation of blood pressure in elderly subjects with decreased activity of daily living and impaired cognitive function

Cognitive impairment in heart failure patients: association with abnormal circadian blood pressure rhythm: a review from the HOPE Asia Network

Cognitive impairment (CI) is frequently a comorbid condition in heart failure (HF) patients, and is associated with increased cardiovascular events and death. Numerous factors contribute to CI in HF patients. Decreased cerebral blood flow, inflammation, and activation of neurohumoral factors are all thought to be factors that exacerbate CI. Hypoperfusion of the brain due to decreased systemic blood flow, cerebral venous congestion, and atherosclerosis are the main mechanism of CI in HF patients. Abnormal circadian BP rhythm is one of the other conditions associated with CI. The conditions in which BP does not decrease sufficiently or increases during the night are called non-dipper or riser BP patterns. Abnormal circadian BP rhythm worsens CI in HF patients through cerebral congestion during sleep and atherosclerosis due to pressure overload. Interventions for CI in HF patients include treatment for HF itself using cardiovascular drugs, and treatment for fluid retention, one of the causes of abnormal circadian rhythms. Proposed pathways of cognitive impairment in heart failure through abnormal circadian blood pressure rhythm.

Association between ambulatory blood pressure monitoring patterns with cognitive function and risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate whether nocturnal blood pressure fall, expressed by dipping patterns according to 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), is associated with abnormal cognitive function (cognitive impairment or dementia).

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases to identify original articles through December 2022. We included any study with at least ten participants reporting on all-cause dementia or cognitive impairment incidence (primary outcome) or validated cognitive tests (secondary outcome) among ABPM patterns. We assessed risk of bias using Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. We pooled odds ratios (OR) and standardized mean differences (SMD) using random-effect models for primary and secondary outcome, respectively.

RESULTS

In the qualitative synthesis, 28 studies examining 7595 patients were included. The pooled analysis of 18 studies showed that dippers had a 51% [OR 0.49(0.35-0.69)] lower risk of abnormal cognitive function and a 63% [OR 0.37(0.23-0.61)] lower risk of dementia alone, compared to non-dippers. Reverse dippers presented an up to sixfold higher risk [OR 6.06(3.15-11.64)] of abnormal cognitive function compared to dippers and an almost twofold higher risk [OR 1.81(1.26-2.6)] compared to non-dippers. Reverse dippers performed worse in global function neuropsychological tests compared with both dippers [SMD - 0.66(- 0.93 to - 0.39)] and non-dippers [SMD - 0.35(- 0.53 to - 0.16)].

CONCLUSION

Dysregulation of the normal circadian BP rhythm, specifically non-dipping and reverse dipping is associated with abnormal cognitive function. Further studies are required to determine potential underlying mechanisms and possible prognostic or therapeutic implications.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42022310384).

Preparation and evaluation of fast-dissolving films of etilefrine hydrochloride for practical buccal dosing

Etilefrine hydrochloride (ET) is an important drug in the treatment of hypotension, and parenteral injections and oral tablets are the conventional dosage forms. However, parenteral injections may cause abnormally high plasma levels as well as pain and necrosis, and oral tablets undergo first-pass metabolism. Although fast-dissolving buccal tablets were previously reported, the initial absorption rate was a little slow and the plasma levels were varied extensively. Recently, many films have been developed as novel dosage forms. Therefore, in the present study, film dosage forms containing ET were produced using water-soluble polymers and glycerin (GLY) as excipients to obtain a practical buccal dosage form. Films composed of ET, GLY, and sodium alginate (AL) exhibited good physical characteristics and rapid release in vitro (more than 70% at 2 min). The compacted AL film containing 2 mg ET (1 × 1 cm) exhibited rapid absorption (>19 ng/mL at 0.5 h), maintained an effective plasma level (>7 ng/mL) for a long time period (0.5-4 h), and had an adequate plasma concentration-time profile with a smaller standard error (<15.3 ng/mL). These results suggest that the present compacted buccal film is a superior dosage form of ET for practical use.

Blood Pressure Circadian Variation, Cognition and Brain Imaging in 90+ Year-Olds

Purpose: To analyze the relationship between blood pressure (BP) variables, including circadian pattern, and cognition in 90+ year-olds.

Methods: Twenty-four hour ambulatory BP monitoring was completed on 121 participants drawn from a longitudinal study of aging and dementia in the oldest-old. Various measures of BP and its variability, including nocturnal dipping, were calculated. Each person was given both a neuropsychological test battery covering different cognitive domains and a neurological examination to determine cognitive status. Seventy-one participants had a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

Results: Participants ranged in age from 90 to 102 years (mean = 93), about two-thirds were female, and nearly 80% had at least some college education. Mean nocturnal dips differed significantly between cognitively normal (n = 97) and impaired individuals (n = 24), with cognitively normal participants having on average greater nocturnal dips [6.6% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.006 for systolic BP (SBP); 11% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.002 for diastolic BP (DBP)]. Nocturnal dips were also related to performance on select cognitive test scores (especially those related to language, recent memory and visual-spatial ability), with individuals who performed below previously established median norms having significantly smaller nocturnal dips (both SBP and DBP) than those above the median. DBP reverse dippers had larger mean white matter hyperintensities (WMH as percent of total brain volume; 1.7% vs. 1.2%, 1.1% and 1.0% in extreme dippers, dippers, non-dippers) and a greater proportion had lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMBs; 44% vs. 0%, 7%, 16%, p < 0.05). Impaired participants had higher mean WMH than those with normal cognition (1.6% vs. 1.0% p = 0.03) and more tended to have CMB (31% vs. 20%, p = n.s.).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that cognitive dysfunction is associated with dysregulation in the normal circadian BP pattern. Further study is warranted of the potential role of WHM and CMB as mediators of this association.

Blood pressure variability predicts cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease patients

The aim of our study was to evaluate whether blood pressure variability influences the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Two hundred and forty AD patients were periodically evaluated for a 12-month period. The blood pressure (BP) status of each patient was defined through mean and coefficient of variation for both systolic and diastolic BP. Progression of cognitive decline was investigated using the Mini Mental State Examination administered at entry and at the end of follow-up. Among the considered BP indices, only systolic BP variability explained the decrease in the Mini Mental State Examination score after adjustment for confounding variables (multiple linear regression: R(2) = 0.603, adjusted R(2) = 0.513; p < 0.001; logistic regression model: odds ratio = 2.882, 95% confidence interval = 1.772-4.495; p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic analysis for evaluating the ability of systolic BP variability to predict a faster cognitive decline presented an area under the curve of 0.913 (95% confidence interval = 0.874-0.953; p < 0.001). Our results suggest that BP variability may be added to the list of the potential vascular risk factors and included in the evaluation of AD patients to better define their risk profile.

Blood Pressure Variability and Cognitive Function in the Elderly

With the increase in the aging population, it is important to understand the individual diseases and their interactions which are prevalent and have a great impact on the health status of the elderly. Hypertension is one of the most common diseases in older age and may impact the health status because it is the main risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as heart failure and stroke. Recently, much evidence has been accumulated showing that hypertension plays an important role in the development and progression of cognitive impairment and dementia. Cerebral hypoperfusion secondary to severe atherosclerosis resulting from long-standing hypertension may be a major biological pathway linking high blood pressure (BP) to cognitive decline and dementia. Furthermore, increased BP variability has also been reported to be significantly associated with white matter hyperintensities and brain atrophy, which are predisposing conditions of dementia, depression, and falls in the elderly even after adjusting for BP levels and other confounding variables. Several mechanisms have been shown to be involved in the association between BP variability and cognitive impairment in elderly individuals. In addition to an increased cerebral blood flow fluctuation, neurohumoral activation, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress have been suggested to be the underlying mechanisms. However, clinical trials provide limited evidence for a protective effect of antihypertensive therapy against dementia and stroke-related cognitive decline. In this article, we aimed to review the existing evidence of the connection between BP variability and cognitive impairment in elderly people.

Cardiac output, blood pressure variability, and cognitive decline in geriatric cardiac patients

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively investigate whether baseline findings on specific cardiovascular indices are predictive of subsequent rate of decline in Attention-Executive-Psychomotor function in a cohort of ambulatory older adults with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

METHODS

One hundred seventy-two older adults with CVD were administered a neuropsychological battery of executive functions tests at study entry, and at 12 and 36 months thereafter. At study entry, they also underwent vascular assessments including cardiac output, ejection fraction, blood pressure (BP), brachial artery reactivity, and carotid intima media thickness. Random coefficient regressions were used to investigate the effect of these cardiac indices on rate of decline in Attention-Executive-Psychomotor function.

RESULTS

Cardiac output, systolic BP variability, and diastolic BP variability predicted decline in Attention-Executive-Psychomotor function. Specifically, lower cardiac output, reduced variability in systolic BP, and increased variability in diastolic BP were associated with a faster rate of decline in Attention-Executive-Psychomotor function. Mean resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not predict decline in Attention-Executive-Psychomotor function.

CONCLUSIONS

Decline in frontal-subcortical cognitive functions among patients with CVDs appears to be mediated by systemic hypoperfusion and variability in blood pressure. The precise nature of these relationships, especially with regard to blood pressure variability, is complex and demands continued investigation.

Blood pressure and cognitive function in older adults with cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Past studies link elevated blood pressure (BP) and BP variability to adverse neurocognitive changes in community samples. However, little is known about the relationship between BP indices and cognitive function in older CVD patients.

METHODS

A total of 99 older adults with CVD completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Resting BP measurements were collected every 10 min for 2 hr during a separate cardiac assessment. Five BP indices were generated: average and standard deviation of systolic blood pressure (SBP), average and standard deviation of diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and a function of systolic variability and average diastolic pressure. We examined the relationship between these BP indices and cognitive function.

RESULTS

Partial correlation adjusting for age and education revealed that the function of systolic variability and average diastolic pressure (SBP standard deviation divided by the average DBP) was most closely related to test performance, showing significant associations to both Learning/Memory (r = 0.25) and Language functioning (r = 0.22). SBP indices were also related to Language functioning (SBP avg., r = 0.22; SBP SD, r = 0.25), though DBP indices were unrelated to performance in any cognitive domain.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings indicate that BP is modestly related to cognitive function in older CVD patients. Contrary to expectations, greater BP variability was associated with better, not poorer, cognitive test performance. Such findings suggest that the relationship between BP and cognitive function is more complicated than typically believed and requires further examination.

Influence of Seated Rocking on Blood Pressure in the Elderly: A Pilot Clinical Study

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who rock for 1—2 hr per day in a rocking chair demonstrate significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and balance and a decrease in pain medication usage; however, the underlying basis for their responses remains unclear. Rocking with plantar flexion uses the calf muscles, enhancing lower limb fluid return to the heart, which should increase blood pressure (BP) and may, then, also increase cerebral perfusion. Accordingly, we tested the efficacy of rocking activity for increasing BP in healthy, older persons. In a pilot laboratory study of 24 healthy, White men and women aged 55—87 years, we observed that 30 min of steady rocking led to an average 12 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP, p < .001) and a 3.6 mmHg average increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP, p < .001). To determine the effect of using this intervention in a nonclinical setting, we tested a similar group of 7 participants at a senior center. In this setting, we observed an average increase in SBP of 27 mmHg (p < .001) and in DBP of 2.5 mmHg (p < .001) after 30 min of rocking. In a subgroup (n = 8) of hypotensive individuals (SBP < 110 mmHg after sitting quietly for 30 min) extracted from both settings, rocking raised the average SBP from <100 mmHg to approximately 120 mmHg. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that rocking can increase BP and, therefore, may enhance cerebral perfusion. This observation may play a fundamental role in designing nursing interventions focused on improvement of symptoms associated with AD.

Cognitive decline and low blood pressure: the other side of the coin

Low blood pressure has been found to be associated with cognitive decline and dementia in cross-sectional studies. Two mechanisms have been proposed to interpret this association: blood pressure levels decrease during the course of the dementia process, and low blood pressure induces or accelerates cognitive decline by lowering cerebral blood flow. Results of the prospective studies are contradictory. Low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension have been found to predict cognitive impairment in the elderly population in some studies only. While hypotension may play a protective role in healthy elderly people, low blood pressure levels in frail elderly patients with associated diseases may cause cerebral hypoperfusion and accelerate cognitive decline.

Why a polysomnogram should become part of the diagnostic evaluation of stroke and transient ischemic attack

Neurologists need to recognize, diagnose, and treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Increasing medical evidence suggests that OSA is an independent risk factor for stroke and TIA. Stroke (or TIA) is more likely a cause, rather than a consequence, of OSA because PSG studies have shown: 1) apneas in stroke are typically obstructive, not central or Cheyne-Stokes in type; 2) apneas are just as frequent and severe in patients with either TIA or stroke; 3) OSA severity is not influenced by the acuteness or location of the stroke; 4) untreated OSA patients have more strokes, stroke morbidity, and mortality than those who are treated. OSA alone can induce hypertension, especially in younger men. A causal relationship has recently been demonstrated between OSA and hypertension. A distinctive feature of OSA-induced hypertension is loss of the normal nighttime fall in blood pressure ("nondippers"). Data from the Sleep Heart Health Study showed a dose-response association between OSA severity and the presence of hypertension 4 years later. Hypertension or ischemic heart disease usually develops in untreated patients with OSA over time without particular worsening of OSA. Studies have shown sleep itself is not a risk factor for stroke because most stroke and TIAs begin between 6 am and noon, while the individual is awake. However, OSA promptly be considered in stroke beginning during sleep because 88% of strokes that develop during sleep occur in "nondippers." Premature death in OSA patients is most often cardiovascular, but occurs while the patients are awake. The risk of myocardial infarction is increased 20-fold in untreated OSA. Treating OSA patients with continuous positive airway pressure can prevent or improve hypertension, reduce abnormal elevations of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules, reduce excessive sympathetic tone, avoid increased vascular oxidative stress, reverse coagulation abnormalities, and reduce leptin levels. If all this can be achieved by a polysomnogram, then this test should become part of a neurologist's armamentarium for stroke and TIA.

Blunted reduction in night-time blood pressure is associated with cognitive deterioration in subjects with long-standing hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Data about the relationship of blunted reduction of night-time blood pressure (BP) with cognitive deterioration (CD) are conflicting. This study aims to explore this possible association in elderly people with long-standing hypertension.

METHODS

Twenty-six hypertensive subjects consecutively admitted to a rehabilitation unit over a six-month period were recruited. Exclusion criteria concerned all clinical conditions potentially related to BP variability or leading to CD. All patients underwent a clinic and 24-h BP non-invasive monitoring assessment of BP, as well as a cognitive assessment with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The presence of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was assessed on CT films, with a standardized visual rating scale.

RESULTS

Blunted reduction of both systolic and diastolic night-time BP were significantly associated with poorer cognitive performances (r=0.61, p=0.001 for systolic; and r=0.57, p=0.002 for diastolic, respectively). In a multiple regression model, blunted reduction of night-time BP (B=0.17, [95% confidence intervals: 1.1-1.3], p=0.008 for systolic; and B=0.15, [95% confidence intervals: 1.0-1.3], p=0.02 for diastolic) independently predicted poorer cognitive performances.

CONCLUSIONS

In subjects with long-standing hypertension the blunted reduction of night-time BP is independently associated with lower cognitive performances.

Time-series analysis of systolic blood pressure variation in thirty-three Uygur centenarians in China

The Uygur are reported to have an unusually long life expectancy. The purpose of this research was to perform a time-series analysis of systolic blood pressure (SBP) variations in the Uygur and clarify the role of blood pressure variation (BPV) in their longevity. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Hotan. We investigated 133 clinically healthy elderly Uygur subjects and divided them into two groups: 1) 33 Uygur centenarians in Hotan (UCH; aged > or = 100 years); and 2) 100 elderly Uygur in Hotan (UEH; aged 65-70 years). Blood pressure (BP) was monitored and analyzed with ambulatory BP monitoring. The frequency domain measures were obtained with the maximum entropy method. The mean 24-h SBP was higher in UCH than in UEH. The ratio of non-dipper type BPV was larger in the UCH than in UEH. The highest power spectral density occurred over a 12-h rather than a 24-h period in both UCH and UEH. Ultradian BPVs were more frequent in UCH than in UEH. The least square-fitting curves demonstrated that the maximum values, minimum values, and mean 24-h SBP values were higher in UCH than in UEH. The higher BP and greater number of ultradian BPVs in UCH may have been due to the greater energy expenditure for maintaining daily activities in this population. Factors such as meals, daytime naps, nocturnal micturition, decreased baroreceptor sensitivity, and arterial sclerosis may also have contributed to the higher ultradian BPVs. In conclusion, BPV in the 12-h is more dominant than in the 24-h in both UCH and UEH. BPVs in the 3-h and 4-h are more frequent in UCH than those in UEH.