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Pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity are related to cognitive decline in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Waldstein SR, Rice SC, Thayer JF, Najjar SS, Scuteri A, Zonderman AB.. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979), 2007-11-19
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity, markers of arterial stiffness, have been associated with stroke, dementia, and lowered levels of cognitive function. Here we examine longitudinal relations of pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity to multiple domains of cognitive function among nondemented, stroke-free persons. Up to 1749 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging completed tests of verbal and nonverbal memory, attention, perceptuo-motor speed, confrontation naming, executive functions, and cognitive screening measures, as well as concurrent sphygmomanometric assessment of blood pressure (for derivation of pulse pressure) on 1 to 8 occasions over 14 years. A subset of <or=582 participants also underwent a single baseline assessment of pulse wave velocity and cognitive assessment on 1 to 6 occasions over 11 years. Results of mixed-effects regression models revealed a prospective decline on tests of verbal learning, nonverbal memory, working memory, and a cognitive screening measure among those with increasing levels of pulse pressure (P<0.05). Persons with higher baseline pulse wave velocity also exhibited prospective decline on tests of verbal learning and delayed recall, nonverbal memory, and a cognitive screening measure (P<0.05). Markers of arterial stiffness are associated prospectively with cognitive decline before dementia. Aggressive treatment of risk factors associated with greater arterial stiffness may help preserve cognitive function with individuals' increasing age.
Key findings
- Pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity, markers of arterial stiffness, have been associated with stroke, dementia, and lowered levels of cognitive function.
- Results of mixed-effects regression models revealed a prospective decline on tests of verbal learning, nonverbal memory, working memory, and a cognitive screening measure among those with increasing levels of pulse pressure (P<0.05).
- Aggressive treatment of risk factors associated with greater arterial stiffness may help preserve cognitive function with individuals' increasing age.
Why it matters
This study found that higher pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity, markers of arterial stiffness, were associated with prospective decline in several cognitive domains in people without dementia. It suggests that treating risk factors for arterial stiffness may help preserve cognition, but it does not prove that this prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,749
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 68/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Hypertension: journal h-index 369 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,749 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 463 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 23.1 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 16 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 52 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Alan B. Zonderman: h-index 119 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | National Institutes of Health: institution h-index 2,723 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18025297) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 68 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.093674
- PubMed: 18025297
- Original source →
- Free full text: Hypertension →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Waldstein, SR., Rice, S. C., Thayer, J. F., Najjar, S. S., Scuteri, A., & Zonderman, A. B. (2008). Pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity are related to cognitive decline in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979). https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.093674
Vancouver
Waldstein SR, Rice SC, Thayer JF, Najjar SS, Scuteri A, Zonderman AB. Pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity are related to cognitive decline in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979). 2008. doi:10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.093674. PMID: 18025297.
BibTeX
@article{waldstein2008-18025297,
author = {Waldstein, SR. and Rice, S. C. and Thayer, J. F. and Najjar, S. S. and Scuteri, A. and Zonderman, A. B.},
title = {{Pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity are related to cognitive decline in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging}},
journal = {Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.093674},
pmid = {18025297},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.093674}
}
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