A – 98 Associations Among Blood Pressure, Depression, and Cognitive Performance in Older Women

Abstract Objective As the global population ages, understanding factors that contribute to cognitive decline in older adults is becoming increasingly important. Cardiovascular disease risk, particularly hypertension, has been identified as a significant risk factor for cognitive impairment. Depression is also often associated with both hypertension and cognitive impairment, potentially having an exacerbating effect. Method The present study examined associations among blood pressure, depressive symptoms, and neuropsychological performance in older women. Using data from Version 3.0 of the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set, we analyzed data from 4287 women aged 65 and older. Neuropsychological measures included assessments of memory (Crafts Story Immediate and Delayed Recall), executive functioning (Trail Making Test Part B), and processing speed (Trail Making Test Part A). Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and depression symptoms (measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale) were the primary predictors of interest. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to examine the independent and potential moderating effects of blood pressure and depression symptoms on cognitive performance. Results Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as depression symptoms, were independent predictors of executive functioning, processing speed, and memory (ps < .01). However, higher systolic blood pressure was associated with worse memory performance, particularly for women with more symptoms of depression (ps < .01). Conclusion These findings indicate that increased depression may exacerbate the negative effects of hypertension on memory, in particular, in older women.