Background: Resistant hypertension is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, stroke, and dementia. Lifestyle modification has been suggested to improve cognitive function through its salutary effects on vascular function.
Methods: Participants included 140 patients with resistant hypertension participating in the TRIUMPH trial. Participants were randomized to a cardiac rehabilitationbased lifestyle program (C-LIFE) or a standardized education and physician advice condition (SEPA). Participants completed a 45-min cognitive test battery consisting of tests of Executive Functioning and Learning, Memory, and Processing Speed. Biomarkers of vascular [flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD)], microvascular, and cerebrovascular function were also collected, in addition to weight, fitness, and ambulatory blood pressure.Results: Participants averaged 63 years of age, 48% women, 59% black, and obese [mean BMI ¼ 36 kg/m 2 (SD ¼ 4)]. Cognitive performance improved across the entire cohort during the 4-month trial [t-scores pretreatment ¼ 48.9 (48, 50) vs. posttreatment ¼ 50.0 (49, 51), P < 0.001]. Postintervention Executive Function/ Learning composite performance was higher for participants in C-LIFE compared to SEPA (d ¼ 0.37, P ¼ 0.039). C-LIFE intervention effects on Memory and Processing Speed were moderated by sex and baseline stroke risk, respectively (P ¼ 0.026 and P ¼ 0.043 for interactions), such that males and participants with greater stroke risk showed the greatest cognitive changes. FMD