Cognitive Function and Hypertension

Given the brain’s high energy demands, the blood supply to the brain is critical for its function. Hence the importance of an intact brain vascular system to adequately perfuse the brain to sustain cognitive function. Given the damage to the vascular system that ensues from hypertension, it is a foregone conclusion that chronic hypertension will lead to cognitive impairments that can ultimately lead to dementia. Despite this logical connection, it was not until the 1990’s that the association between hypertension and dementia began to be made. And, it was not until 2000 that the first definitive connection between hypertension and dementia was reported (Launer et al., 2000). With the expanding characterization of different types of dementias, including subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease, this presentation will focus on mechanisms whereby hypertension promotes the development of different types of cognitive impairment and dementia, including mitigation strategies for protection of cognitive function.