Midlife to Late-Life Changes in Blood Pressure and Cerebral Blood Flow in Old Age: the AGES-Reykjavik Study

Introduction: Adverse changes in blood pressure (BP) over the life course can lead to adverse cerebrovascular outcomes, including reduced blood flow. In this life-course, longitudinal, population-based study, we investigated the link between midlife to late life changes in BP and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in old age. Methods: From the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES)–Reykjavik Study (2002-2011), 2491 individuals (mean age (SD): midlife 49.7 (6.1) and late-life 79.8 (4.7) years old) were included. BP was measured at three different time points: 1 in mid-life, and 2 in late-life measured 5 years apart (mean follow-up time 30.1 years). With linear mixed models, annual changes in BP were estimated for each participant (mmHg/year). Participants were categorized in tertiles of changes in systolic, pulse pressure and diastolic BP. Total CBF was measured in the last late-life visit with the Phase-Contrast MRI and standardized for brain parenchymal volume (mL/min/100mL). Results: Overall, each mmHg/year...