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Research Article
Originally Published 8 September 2015
Free Access

Blood Pressure Is Not Associated With Cerebral Blood Flow in Older Persons

Jessica C. Foster-Dingley, Justine E.F. Moonen, Anton J.M. de Craen, Wouter de Ruijter, Roos C. van der Mast, and Jeroen van der GrondAuthor Info & Affiliations
Hypertension
Volume 66, Number 5
https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.05799
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Abstract

Many studies showing a relation between low blood pressure (BP) and adverse health outcomes in older persons suggest that low BP gives rise to reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, limited evidence is available about this association. Baseline data of 203 participants in the Discontinuation of Antihypertensive Treatment in the Elderly (DANTE) trial were used (mean age, 81 years, using antihypertensive medication and with mild cognitive deficits). BP, BP changes on standing, and CBF derived from pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labeling magnetic resonance imaging were assessed in all participants. In 102 participants who were randomly assigned to 4-month continuation (n=47) or discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment (n=55), BP and CBF change were evaluated at 4-month follow-up. Systolic and diastolic BP were not associated with CBF (B=−0.21, P=0.50 and B=−1.07, P=0.07), neither were mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and BP changes on standing. In subgroups of participants with small vessel–related cerebral pathologies, including high white matter hyperintensity volume, microbleeds, and lacunar infarcts, or in participants with lower cognition or diabetes mellitus, no association was found between any BP parameters and CBF. Furthermore, compared to the continuation group, CBF change at 4 months was not different in the discontinuation group (B=−0.12, P=0.23). Contrary to the notion that lower BP in old age is associated with decreased CBF, our data do not show this association in older persons using antihypertensive medication and with mild cognitive deficits. Also, this association was not present in subgroups of more vulnerable persons, reflected by small vessel–related cerebral pathologies, lower cognition, or diabetes mellitus.

Introduction

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is essential for providing oxygen and nutrients to the brain to maintain optimal brain function. A constant level of CBF is ensured by means of the cerebral autoregulatory mechanism, where fluctuations in blood pressure (BP) are counteracted via adjusting the resistance of cerebral arterioles.1 With increasing age and long-standing high BP, arteriosclerosis affects cerebral arterioles, subsequently disrupting cerebral autoregulation.2,3 When cerebral autoregulation becomes chronically disrupted, a lower BP can no longer be compensated for and hypoperfusion may occur.1,2,4
Many studies in older persons show an association between the presence of low BP and adverse health outcomes, including increased mortality,5–7 cerebral atrophy,8–10 risk of dementia,11 and cognitive impairment.12,13 However, a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled double-blind trials in older persons demonstrated a beneficial effect of BP lowering on stroke, cardiovascular events, and heart failure but not on total mortality.14 It has also been hypothesized that, even in the oldest old, lowering BP might prevent or delay cognitive decline. Data from the Systolic Hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur) trial showed a benefit from antihypertensive treatment in prevention of dementia in persons aged ≥60 years.15 However, hypertension in the very elderly trial (HYVET) failed to demonstrate that lowering BP with antihypertensive treatment improved cognitive functioning in elderly aged ≥80 years.16 Moreover, meta-analyses, including the Syst-Eur and HYVET and other placebo-controlled double-blind trials, suggested that BP lowering with antihypertensive treatment does not reduce the risk of dementia.17,18 It has even been proposed that lowering BP in older persons using antihypertensive medication may decrease CBF.3,19–21 These observations have led to the suggestion that low BP in old age could result in cerebral hypoperfusion, initiated by impaired cerebral autoregulation. Nevertheless, in older persons with low BP at risk of impaired cerebral autoregulation, limited data are available as to whether CBF is in fact impaired.
The aim of this study was to assess whether BP is associated with CBF in older persons (mean age, 81 years) using antihypertensive medication and with mild cognitive deficits. On the basis of previous reports, we hypothesized that in this population, an association would exist between lower BP and lower CBF and that an increase in BP in these individuals would lead to an increase in CBF. Especially in subgroups with small vessel–related cerebral pathologies, lower cognition or diabetes mellitus, which are more at risk to have impaired cerebral autoregulation, this association may be more pronounced.

Methods

Participants and Procedures

Data were obtained from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) substudy of the Discontinuation of Antihypertensive Treatment in the Elderly (DANTE) trial; a community-based randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of temporary (4-month) discontinuation of antihypertensive therapy in older persons with mild cognitive deficits in neuropsychological functioning. Participants, aged ≥75 years, who were using antihypertensive medication and had a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 21 to 27, were enrolled from Dutch general practices. In addition, a current systolic BP (SBP; based on the last BP measurement obtained from the general practitioners’ electronic medical record) of ≤160 or ≤140 mm Hg for persons with diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, or coronary reperfusion procedures ≥3 years ago, was required. Exclusion criteria were a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, a recent (≤3 years) myocardial infarction or recent coronary reperfusion procedure, current angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, the use of antihypertensive medication other than for hypertension, a clinical diagnosis of dementia, or a limited life expectancy.
The DANTE Study Leiden was approved by the Medical Ethics committee of the Leiden University Medical Center and informed consent was obtained from all participants.
In total, 219 of the DANTE participants underwent anatomic and pseudo-continuous Arterial-Spin Labeling (PCASL) MRI scans at baseline to assess the presence and severity of small vessel–related cerebral pathologies and CBF, respectively. Sixteen participants were excluded because of incidental MRI findings, leaving a total of 203 participants for the cross-sectional analyses.
Within a week after the baseline measurement participants were randomly assigned, using block randomization (block sizes of 4 per general practice), in a 1:1 ratio into 2 parallel groups: discontinuation or continuation of antihypertensive treatment. After randomization, for the discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment all general practitioners were instructed to completely or partially withdraw antihypertensive medication. Research staff was blinded to the allocated intervention, whereas general practitioners conducting the intervention and the participants were not. Because of financial limitations, the follow-up PCASL was added in a later phase of the study. Therefore, a random subgroup (n=102) of participants received follow-up PCASL scans 4 months after randomization. The longitudinal analyses included 102 participants, of these, half of the participants with a follow-up PCASL had continued using antihypertensive medication (n=47) and the other half discontinued using antihypertensive medication (n=55) during 4-month follow-up.

Blood Pressure

BP was measured by research staff using a fully automatic electronic sphygmomanometer (Omron M6 comfort). First, with all participants in a seated position, BP was measured twice, with 2 minutes between measurements, on the right arm. Thereafter, 3 successive standing BP measurements were performed directly on standing within ≈3 minutes, whereby the research staff supported the arm, to keep the cuff at heart level. Similarly, in the subgroup of participants (n=102) with a follow-up PCASL MRI scan, BP was measured at 4 months. For analysis, BP measurements were averaged to yield an estimate of the participant’s resting BP. Mean arterial pressure was calculated as 1/3(SBP)+2/3 (diastolic BP [DBP]) and pulse pressure as SBP−DBP. In addition, postural SBP change was calculated as the difference between the mean sitting SBP and the mean standing SBP, the same was done for the DBP. Changes in SBP and DBP on standing were used as indicators of autonomic dysfunction.

CBF and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

MRI scans were acquired with a 3-T whole-body magnetic resonance system. White matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, defined as hyperintense regions on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, was measured in an automated manner. The average gray matter CBF was calculated in mL/100 g per minute with PCASL images. Cerebral microbleeds were assessed on T2*-weighted images and lacunar infarcts on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, T2 and 3DT1-weighted images. Detailed description image acquisition and analyses are available in the online-only Data Supplement, which includes brain imaging, WMH volume, CBF, and cerebral microbleeds and lacunar infarcts.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained at baseline using a standardized interview. Information on medication and medical history were obtained from the general practitioners with the aid of structured questionnaires.

Statistical Analyses

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants are presented as numbers with percentages, mean with SDs, or medians with interquartile ranges when appropriate.
The correlation power calculation showed that for a sample size of n=203 with an α of 5% and a power of 80%, a correlation coefficient of 0.2 could be detected.
The cross-sectional relationship between BP parameters and gray matter CBF was explored by using correlation analyses and linear regression analyses. Unstandardized β and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated per 10 mm Hg increase in BP parameters. We previously found associations of lower BP with lower volumes of the thalamus, putamen, and hippocampus.22 We also assessed whether BP parameters were associated with CBF within these 3 subcortical structures.
The association between postural BP changes (as indicators of orthostatic hypotension) and gray matter CBF was assessed with linear regression. Unstandardized β and 95% CIs were calculated per mm Hg increase in SBP and DBP changes on standing.
As cerebral small vessel disease has been related to impaired cerebral autoregulation,23,24 stratified analyses were performed in subgroups of participants with small vessel–related cerebral pathologies. The subgroups included participants with a WMH volume above the median (>20.5 mL: n=101, 49.8%), with cerebral microbleeds (n=50, 25.0%) and with lacunar infarcts (n=56, 27.6%). In addition, stratified analyses were performed based on median mini-mental state examination score (26 points; n=103, 50.7%) and presence of diabetes mellitus (n=39, 19.2%). To further explore the association of BP parameters and gray matter CBF, we performed analyses in subgroups of participants using specific types of antihypertensive medication (including β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium antagonists, and diuretics) or using platelet inhibitors (n=39, 19.2%), statins (n=71, 35.0%), or psychotropic medication (n=34, 16.7%).
For the longitudinal data analyses, changes in BP and gray matter CBF were calculated by subtracting the baseline measurement from the follow-up measurement. The effect of discontinuation of antihypertensive medication on BP and gray matter CBF was determined with linear regression analyses, in which the randomization was the independent variable and SBP, DBP, or gray matter CBF was the dependent continuous variable.
All cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were adjusted for age and sex. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software (version 20.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL).

Results

Baseline characteristics of the study population and of the longitudinal sample are summarized in Table. In the entire study population, the mean age was 80.8 (SD, 4.1; range, 75–96) years. Mean SBP was 145 mm Hg (SD, 21.0), mean DBP was 81 mm Hg (SD, 10.8), and mean mean arterial pressure was 102 mm Hg (SD, 13.1). Mean gray matter CBF was 35.9 mL/100 g per minute (SD, 9.4). All characteristics of the longitudinal sample were similar to the entire study population.
Table. Baseline Characteristics of the Total Sample of Participants (n=203) and of the Longitudinal Sample (n=102)
CharacteristicsTotal Sample (n=203)Longitudinal Sample (n=102)
Demographic
 Age, y, mean (SD)80.8 (4.1)80.5 (3.9)
 Female, n (%)115 (56.7)56 (54.9)
Clinical
 Current smoker, n (%)14 (6.9)6 (5.9)
 Alcohol ≥14 U/wk, n (%)21 (10.3)11 (10.8)
 History of cardiovascular disease, n (%)*17 (8.4)11 (10.8)
 Presence of chronic disease, n (%)†125 (61.6)63 (61.8)
 MMSE score, median (IQR)26 (25–27)27 (26–27)
 Presence of orthostatic hypotension, n (%)‡96 (47.3)49 (48.0)
 Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg, mean (SD)145 (21.0)146 (21.3)
 Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg, mean (SD)81 (10.8)82 (10.5)
 Mean arterial pressure, mm Hg, mean (SD)102 (13.1)103 (13.0)
 Pulse pressure, mm Hg, mean (SD)65 (15.4)64 (15.7)
 Antihypertensive medication, n (%)
  No. of antihypertensive agents ≥2119 (58.6)60 (58.8)
  β-Blocker74 (36.5)35 (34.3)
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor64 (31.5)34 (33.3)
  Angiotensin receptor blocker75 (36.9)41 (40.2)
  Calcium channel blocker45 (22.2)22 (21.6)
  Diuretic107 (52.7)52 (51.0)
 Psychotropic medication, n (%)§34 (16.7)18 (17.6)
Cerebral
 Gray matter, mL, mean (SD)498 (47.5)498 (49.7)
 White matter, mL, mean (SD)504 (51.3)506 (53.7)
 WMH, mL, median (IQR)21 (9–56)19 (7–60)
 Presence of cerebral microbleeds, n (%)‖50 (25.0)27 (26.5)
 Presence of lacunar infarcts, n (%)56 (27.6)33 (32.4)
 Gray matter CBF, mL/100 g per minute (SD)35.9 (9.4)36.0 (8.1)
CBF indicates cerebral blood flow; IQR, interquartile range; MMSE, mini-mental state examination; and WMH, white matter hyperintensities.
*
Cardiovascular diseases include myocardial infarction or percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft.
†
Chronic diseases include diabetes mellitus, Parkinson disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, malignancy, and osteoarthritis.
‡
Orthostatic hypotension was defined as either a systolic blood pressure decrease ≥20 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure decrease of ≥10 mm Hg within 3 minutes on standing, or both.
§
Psychotropic medication includes the use of antipsychotics, antidepressants, or benzodiazepines.
‖
n=3 missing data in n=203 sample.
Per 10 mm Hg increase in SBP, gray matter CBF was 0.21 mL/100 g per minute lower (95% CI, −0.82 to 0.40; P=0.50). Similar small nonsignificant effect sizes were found for the association between DBP, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure with gray matter CBF (Figure 1). In addition, there was no association between any of the BP parameters and CBF in the thalamus, putamen, and hippocampus (all P>0.05).
Figure 1. Relationship between blood pressure parameters (per 10 mm Hg increase) and gray matter cerebral blood flow (CBF) in mL/100 g per minute. Unstandardized β and P values were calculated by linear regression analyses adjusting for age and sex. All correlation coefficients were nonsignificant. DBP indicates diastolic blood pressure; MAP, mean arterial pressure; PP, pulse pressure; and SBP, systolic blood pressure.
The effect of SBP and DBP changes on standing on gray matter CBF are shown in Figure 2. Neither the SBP nor the DBP change on standing were associated with gray matter CBF (B=−0.11; 95% CI; −0.22 to 0.01; P=0.07 and B=−0.13; 95% CI, −033 to 0.07; P=0.21, respectively).
Figure 2. The associations of systolic blood pressure change (SBPC) and diastolic blood pressure change (DBPC) on standing with gray matter cerebral blood flow (CBF). Unstandardized β and P values were calculated per mm Hg increase in blood pressure change with linear regression analysis adjusting for age and sex. A higher blood pressure change indicates that the blood pressure in seated position was higher than blood pressure in standing position.
Stratified analyses in subgroups of participants with small vessel disease–related pathologies, that is, high WMH volume (n=101), cerebral microbleeds (n=50), or lacunar infarcts (n=56), or with an mini-mental state examination score ≤26 points (n=103) or diabetes mellitus (n=39), revealed that no statistically significant associations were found between SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure, or pulse pressure and gray matter CBF in any of these subgroups (all P>0.05; Figure 3). Moreover, no significant association were found between any of the BP parameters and gray matter CBF in subgroups of participants using β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium antagonists, diuretics, platelet inhibitors, statins, or psychotropic medication (all P>0.05).
Figure 3. The association between blood pressure parameters (per 10 mm Hg increase) and gray matter cerebral blood flow (CBF) stratified for cerebral small vessel–related pathologies, lower cognition, or diabetes mellitus. Unstandardized β (95% confidence interval [CI]) were calculated by linear regression analyses adjusting for age and sex. A negative β indicates that per 10 mm Hg, BP increase and gray matter CBF decreases. DBP indicates diastolic blood pressure; MAP, mean arterial pressure; MMSE, mini-mental state examination; PP, pulse pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure; and WMH, white matter hyperintensity.
Figure 4 shows the 4-month change in SBP, DBP, and CBF in both the continuation group and the group that discontinued antihypertensive medication. Discontinuation of antihypertensive medication resulted in a statistically significant increase of both SBP (9.4 mm Hg; SE, 4.5) and DBP (5.0 mm Hg; SE, 2.2), compared to the group that continued antihypertensive medication (B=0.20; 95% CI, 0.01–0.40; P=0.04 and B=0.22; 95% CI, 0.03–0.41; P=0.02, respectively). However, in the discontinuation group, gray matter CBF did not change significantly when compared to the continuation group (B=−0.12; 95% CI, −0.32 to 0.08; P=0.23).
Figure 4. Four-month change in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the continuation group and the group that discontinued antihypertensive medication. Bars represent the mean and standard deviation. The discontinuation group had significantly higher SBP and DBP change than the continuation group (P<0.05). CBF change was not significantly different between the discontinuation and continuation group.

Discussion

In our population of older persons with mild cognitive deficits using antihypertensive medication, no relation was found between any BP parameter and CBF. Moreover, BP changes after the orthostatic challenge were not associated with CBF, and no association was found between BP and CBF in subgroups of persons with small vessel disease–related pathologies, lower cognition, or diabetes mellitus. In addition, our longitudinal data showed that a change in BP during 4 months because of the discontinuation of antihypertensive medication had no effect on CBF.
During the past decades, a considerable number of observational and longitudinal studies in older persons have revealed an association between low BP and adverse health outcomes. In the Leiden 85-plus Study, it was shown that 85-year-old persons with low BP had an increased mortality risk.7 Similar observations of unfavorable outcomes in older persons with low BP are at an increased risk of dementia11 and cognitive impairment.12,13 In a combined study of 2 prospective population-based studies, low baseline BP conferred a higher risk of dementia 2 years later, especially in persons using antihypertensive medication.11 A possible explanation for these findings has been that in older persons low BP or a decrease in BP might be associated with a low CBF. Furthermore, it has also been proposed that in older persons in addition to low BP, atherosclerosis, and possibly, the treatment of hypertension may induce cerebral hypoperfusion, ischemia, and hypoxia. Our data show that even in older persons using antihypertensive medication and at increased risk of having chronic hypoperfusion, lower BP is not associated with low CBF. Although effects were only minor and not statistically significant, our data pointed to the opposite direction. Therefore, the commonly used explanation for previous findings, namely that BP increases the risk of adverse health outcomes by means of a subsequently lowered CBF, is not supported by our findings.
Opposing our hypothesis, we found no association between low BP and low CBF. In agreement with previous literature, BP changes after the orthostatic challenge were not associated with CBF.4 In our study, the median WMH volume (21 mL [IQR, 9–56]) was relatively high compared to median WMH volume in other studies that included older persons. Previous studies reported a mean white matter lesion volume of 5 to 11 mL in participants with a mean age of 72 to 75 years.25–27 The prevalence of cerebral microbleeds and lacunar infarcts in our study population (25.0% and 27.6%, respectively) was slightly higher than that in other studies, reporting a prevalence of cerebral microbleeds of 17.2%27 or 23.5% and a prevalence of lacunar infarcts of 18.2%.26,28 Although cerebrovascular reactivity may be reduced in persons with small vessel disease,23,24 BP was not related to CBF in subgroups of persons with overt signs of small vessel disease–related pathologies. Furthermore, our results revealed that after the 4-month discontinuation of antihypertensive medication, a significantly increased BP had no effect on CBF. Only few studies have investigated whether BP is associated with CBF. In one of these studies, including younger persons (mean age, 58 years), SBP and DBP were also not associated with CBF.29 Another study, not only in a healthy but also younger population (mean age, 67 years), showed that only in men higher BP was associated with lower CBF.30 However, no association between low BP and reduced CBF was found in any of these studies. Furthermore, higher BP among persons with atherosclerosis was associated with a decline in CBF during 5-year follow-up,31 and previous findings in hypertensive older persons aged ≥70 years showed that CBF increased in persons who were more intensively treated for hypertension.32
An explanation for our results may be that in our population, consisting of older persons with mild cognitive deficits, BP stays within the range of cerebral autoregulation, whereby CBF remains constant. Because no relation with CBF was found with indicators of autonomic dysfunction, namely BP changes on standing or with BP in subgroups of persons with small vessel disease–related pathologies (prone to have disrupted cerebral autoregulation), we can only speculate that this BP range of maintained cerebral autoregulation seems relatively wide, so that CBF remains stable.
To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between BP and CBF in subgroups of older person with small vessel–related cerebral pathologies, in addition to BP change on standing and CBF. Also, the assessment of BP and CBF change because of the discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment is unique. A limitation of this study may be that, despite the fact that our study population consisted of older old persons with small vessel disease–related pathologies, the inclusion of participants without stroke or (recent) other cardiovascular events may have resulted in a selection of relatively healthy older old persons. This selection limits our ability to extrapolate the results to all older old persons. Also, BP change on standing was related to CBF measured in a supine position, measuring CBF on standing would be preferable. In addition, although the large range in BP and CBF values may have hampered finding small associations, there was sufficient statistical power to find a correlation coefficient of 0.20. Our relatively small number of persons with a low BP may have prevented us from finding an association with reduced CBF. Yet, it is notable that we consistently found no relationship between BP parameters and CBF.
In conclusion, although it is frequently thought that lowering BP in older persons with impaired vascular resistance reduces CBF, our data show that in older persons with mild cognitive deficits who are using antihypertensive medication, low BP is not associated with decreased CBF, indicating this hypothesis is unlikely.

Perspectives

Observational studies suggest that the association between low BP levels and adverse health outcomes in old age such as cognitive decline may be the consequence of cerebral hypoperfusion. Nevertheless, in older persons with low BP at risk of impaired cerebral autoregulation, limited data are available as to whether CBF is actually comprised. Our data suggest that low BP is not associated with reduced CBF. Even when indicators of increased vulnerability for reduced cerebral autoregulation were present, and when assessing BP change on standing and BP change because of the 4-month discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment, this association was not present, indicating that low BP levels are not associated with hypoperfusion.

Acknowledgments

We thank all the DANTE Study Leiden coinvestigators and Dr Ghariq for his technical support in analyzing the pseudo-continuous Arterial-Spin Labeling data.

Novelty and Significance

What Is New?

•
In subgroups of older persons with small vessel–related cerebral pathologies, we found no relation between low blood pressure (BP) and decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF).
•
BP change on standing was not associated with lower resting supine CBF.
•
BP and CBF change because of the discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment has not been studied before.

What Is Relevant?

•
Contrary to the belief that lower BP in old age is associated with decreased CBF, our study indicates that in a population of older persons, there is no relationship between low BP and decreased CBF.

Summary

This is the first study to show low BP is not associated with low CBF in older persons, even in subgroups of older person with small vessel–related cerebral pathologies, this was not the case. BP change on standing and BP change because of the 4-month discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment did not affect CBF either.

Supplemental Material

File (hyp_hype201505799_supp1.pdf)

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Published In

Go to Hypertension
Hypertension
Volume 66 • Number 5 • November 2015
Pages: 954 - 960
PubMed: 26351027

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© 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

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History

Received: 5 May 2015
Revision received: 21 May 2015
Accepted: 16 July 2015
Published online: 8 September 2015
Published in print: November 2015

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Keywords

  1. aging
  2. blood flow
  3. blood pressure
  4. cerebral small vessel diseases
  5. magnetic resonance imaging

Subjects

  1. Computerized Tomography (CT)
  2. Hypertension

Authors

Affiliations

Jessica C. Foster-Dingley
From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.C.F.-D., J.E.F.M., R.C.v.d.M.), Gerontology and Geriatrics (A.J.M.d.C.), Public health and Primary care (W.d.R.), and Radiology (J.v.d.G.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; and Department of Psychiatry, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium (R.C.v.d.M.).
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Justine E.F. Moonen
From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.C.F.-D., J.E.F.M., R.C.v.d.M.), Gerontology and Geriatrics (A.J.M.d.C.), Public health and Primary care (W.d.R.), and Radiology (J.v.d.G.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; and Department of Psychiatry, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium (R.C.v.d.M.).
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Anton J.M. de Craen
From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.C.F.-D., J.E.F.M., R.C.v.d.M.), Gerontology and Geriatrics (A.J.M.d.C.), Public health and Primary care (W.d.R.), and Radiology (J.v.d.G.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; and Department of Psychiatry, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium (R.C.v.d.M.).
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Wouter de Ruijter
From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.C.F.-D., J.E.F.M., R.C.v.d.M.), Gerontology and Geriatrics (A.J.M.d.C.), Public health and Primary care (W.d.R.), and Radiology (J.v.d.G.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; and Department of Psychiatry, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium (R.C.v.d.M.).
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Roos C. van der Mast
From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.C.F.-D., J.E.F.M., R.C.v.d.M.), Gerontology and Geriatrics (A.J.M.d.C.), Public health and Primary care (W.d.R.), and Radiology (J.v.d.G.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; and Department of Psychiatry, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium (R.C.v.d.M.).
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Jeroen van der Grond
From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.C.F.-D., J.E.F.M., R.C.v.d.M.), Gerontology and Geriatrics (A.J.M.d.C.), Public health and Primary care (W.d.R.), and Radiology (J.v.d.G.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; and Department of Psychiatry, CAPRI, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium (R.C.v.d.M.).
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Notes

The online-only Data Supplement is available with this article at http://hyper.ahajournals.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.05799/-/DC1.
Correspondence to Jessica C. Foster-Dingley, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 10392, 2300 WB, Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail [email protected]

Disclosures

None.

Sources of Funding

The DANTE Study Leiden was funded by a grant from the ZonMW, The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, Program Priority Medicines for the Elderly, grant number: 40-41600-98-9014.

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Blood Pressure Is Not Associated With Cerebral Blood Flow in Older Persons
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