Examining the Connection Between Vascular Function and Cognitive Performance

Higher blood pressure and arterial stiffness were associated with worse verbal fluency, working memory, visuospatial, and executive function. Findings support, and add to prior work, such that vascular and cognitive assessments may differ by race, and a one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate in delineating disease mechanisms and pathways. Future research should include diverse cohorts, most at risk for vascular disease and cognitive decline, to understand mechanisms, and ensure that diagnostics, treatments, and prevention strategies are appropriate and advantageous to all populations.