In another study published in the same journal in 2009, Dr. Perlmuter and fellow researchers looked at 3- to 5- year-olds from a local Head Start program. They examined the relationship between the preschoolers' orthostatic blood pressure regulation and their performance on a screening test used to uncover developmental delays.

Children who exhibited an appropriate increase in systolic blood pressure upon standing scored best in terms of composite motor skills, an index of cognitive function.

Checking for orthostatic hypotension in early childhood could help identify children at risk for depression and learning difficulties. Such children could then be offered an early academic intervention.

Rosalind Franklin University researchers are also examining the relationship between maternal anxiety and blood pressure regulation. Anxiety in mothers not only correlated with anxiety scores in their children, but also predicted poor blood pressure regulation in their children.

Dr. Perlmuter's research has also found that low birth weight can predict orthostatic hypotension in children. However, his latest study revisits the other end of life's spectrum.

"Cognition and Hopelessness in Association with Subsyndromal Orthostatic Hypotension," which will appear this summer in the Journal of Gerontology, examined men and women ages 30 to 75. Poor blood pressure regulation in response to standing was associated with decreased verbal memory, decreased concentration and higher hopelessness scores.

The study concludes that "routine assessment and identification of orthostatic hypotension may provide an opportunity to reduce the risk for cognitive and affective decline through positive lifestyle changes and physical exercise."

With regard to future implications, Dr. Perlmuter hopes his research succeeds in "identifying one of the antecedents" to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well to aggressive and impulsive behaviors. This research is getting underway with Head Start children in September.

"A question is whether we view this topic as a clinical phenomenon," Dr. Perlmuter said. "It nevertheless has broad health and psychosocial implications. Finally, it should be recognized that since subclinical orthostatic hypotension is a phenomenon crossing physiological, cognitive and emotional boundaries with people, we weren't expecting these relationships - thus researchers have not until now looked for them."

SOURCE Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science