Could Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Be a Routine Investigation for Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment?

Abstract

Objectives: To study the ambulatory measured blood pressure (ABPM) profile in normotensive patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Patients and Methods: The study was designed as a case control study including 50 male patients with mild cognitive impairment in the age group of 30-50 years old. The control group included 30 volunteers with no cognitive impairment and in the same age group (30-50 years old) and same gender. Mini-mental estate examination, office and ABP monitoring (ABPM) and brain MRI scans were done for cases and controls. Results: 30 patients (60%) with MCI revealed a non-dipper blood pressure pattern. Sleeping systolic blood pressure and sleeping systolic load were significantly higher in patients with MCI than in normal volunteers (p=0.01). MRI brain showed more white matter lesions (WMLs) in patients with MCI than in normal volunteers; however, this didn't reach significance level (p=0.056). Conclusion: MCI in normotensive young adult patients could reflect an abnormal circadian blood pressure rhythm. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring could be an essential investigation in young adult MCI patients.