Lifetime hypertension as a predictor of brain structure in older adults: cohort study with a 28-year follow-up.

Allan, CL
Zsoldos, E
Filippini, N
Sexton, CE
Topiwala, A
Valkanova, V
Singh-Manoux, A
Tabák, Ádám
Shipley, MJ
Mackay, C
Ebmeier, KP
Kivimaki, M

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Publication date

August 2019

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.153536

Publisher

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of dementia and depression with uncertain longitudinal associations with brain structure. AIMS: To examine lifetime blood pressure as a predictor of brain structure in old age. METHOD: A total of 190 participants (mean age 69.3 years) from the Whitehall II study were screened for hypertension six times (1985-2013). In 2012-2013, participants had a 3T-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan. Data from the MRI were analysed using automated and visual measures of global atrophy, hippocampal atrophy and white matter hyperintensities. RESULTS: Longitudinally, higher mean arterial pressure predicted increased automated white matter hyperintensities (P<0.002). Cross-sectionally, hyp...