Comparison of Cognitive Function in Hypertensive and Non-Hypertensive Elderly

Hypertension and cognitive disorders are common problems in the elderly and their prevalence is increasing as the population ages. The present study aimed to investigate different aspects of cognitive function in elderly people with and without hypertension. It was a causal-comparative study. The statistical population included the elderly of Arak city, among them, two groups of 30 were selected through convenience sampling, one with hypertension based on medical records and the other non-hypertensive. Montreal test was used to assess cognitive performance dimensions. Results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that in all subscales of the Montreal test, the elderly without hypertension performed significantly better than the elderly with hypertension. The most significant differences between the two groups were known in the subscales of language, computation, and attention. This finding suggested the effects of high blood pressure on brain function. According to the results of this study, it is necessary to design and implement therapeutic protocols for the elderly with hypertension for their cognitive rehabilitation.