Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cognition may be influenced by health-related factors such as blood pressure (BP). However, variations in BP may differentially affect cognition across race. This study investigates BP and cognitive decline in older Black and White adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 2,284 participants (1,139 Blacks, 1,145 Whites, MAge = 73.4) from three harmonized cohorts of older adults from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, were divided into three groups (normal, high, variable) based on systolic BP mean and standard deviation. Cognitive scores were computed from 18 neuropsychological tests and averaged to summarize five domains (episodic memory, semantic memory, working memory, processing speed, visuospatial ability) and a measure of global cognition. Linear mixed-effects models examined racial differences between BP and cognition over an average of 6.7 years. RESULTS: White adults with high BP declined faster in global cognition, perceptual speed, semantic memory, and working memory compared to Black adults with high BP, whereas White adults with variable BP had faster rates of decline in global cognition, all cognitive domains, compared to Black adults with variable BP. No differences in rate of cognitive decline were observed between Black and White older adults with normal BP. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Variations in BP differentially relate to cognitive decline in Black and White older adults, highlighting the interplay between BP and cognitive health, and the importance of race in understanding this relationship.