Can measurements of arterial stiffness detect patients with hypertension at increased dementia risk?
Abstract
Recent data suggest that we are on the verge of a dementia pandemic. Hypertension is a significant risk factor for this so far untreatable irreversible condition.
The attention of researchers is now focused on identifying individuals at increased risk of cognitive decline or with early-stage cognitive deficit. Apart from cognitive function tests and imaging studies, no suitable biomarkers to identify these individuals have been available as yet.
Haemodynamic parameters could be potentially useful biomarkers. At the ESH 2022 Congress, Professor Cunha presented the current knowledge suggesting that cognitive decline could be related to visit-to-visit blood pressure variability, carotid artery intima media thickness, and aortic stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV).
Currently, the CEREBRO study is being conducted to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with hypertension and to search for early vascular biomarkers that correlate with cognitive decline. In addition to early and tight control of blood pressure, early detection of cognitive impairment could be a way to reduce the prevalence of advanced stages of dementia in the future.