Blood pressure and cognitive function among older adults in India

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function among older adults in India. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed cross-sectional data of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively) and cognitive testing from 3690 adults aged 60 years and older participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study in India—Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia from 14 states in India. RESULTS: After controlling for key sociodemographic, health, and geographic factors, higher SBP and lower DBP were each independently associated with worse cognitive function. Older age, female sex, lower education level, being widowed, residing in a rural area, being a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, having a low level of economic consumption, being underweight, and a history of stroke were all independently associated with worse cognitive function scores. CONCLUSIONS: Both SBP and DBP were independently associated with cognitive function among older adults in India in diverging directions. Clinical interventions targeting high SBP and low DBP may benefit both cognitive health and cardiovascular health.