Effects of hypertension and TBI on executive functioning in middle-to-late adults
Open Access
- Author:
- Chafale, Adwait
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Frank Gerard Hillary, Thesis Supervisor
Frank Gerard Hillary, Thesis Honors Advisor
Peter Andrew Arnett, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Hypertension
Traumatic Brain Injury
Neuropsychology
Adults
Blood Pressure - Abstract:
- A rapid increase in age related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), is causing such conditions like cognitive decline to become a public health concern (Kelly & Petersen, 2007). Many studies have shown a relationship between hypertension and traumatic brain injury (TBI) with cognitive decline (such as executive functioning) respectively (Obisesan et al., 2008; Ramos-Cejudo et al., 2018). There have been few studies involving both conditions and specifically analyzing their interaction on executive functioning. Therefore, this study will investigate the effects of hypertension on executive functioning in patients with TBI compared to those without TBI. Executive function will be measured using the Trail Making Test Form B, WAIS-III Digit Span Forward & Backward, and Verbal Fluency Test FAS. Expected results included significant main effects of blood pressure and TBI individually on executive functioning. Additionally, it was predicted that there would be a significant interaction between TBI and blood pressure on executive functioning. Results indicated a significant main effect of TBI presence on working memory and verbal fluency, but not on inhibitory control. There was a significant main effect of blood pressure on inhibitory control, but not on working memory and verbal fluency. The results indicated that there was a significant interaction between TBI and blood pressure on working memory performance. Therefore, the study found that hypertension and TBI affect long-term executive functioning s depending on the form of executive functioning. Future studies may investigate the functional connectivity associated with the interaction between TBI and blood pressure on executive functioning.