The relationship among hypertension, aging and cognitive decline is complex and not completely understood. Purpose of this project will be evaluating early markers of cognitive deterioration in patients with arterial hypertension. In particular, this cross-sectional observational study will be articulated in three phases:

1. Neuropsychological evaluation of general cognitive abilities
2. Identification and measurement of specific biomarker levels
3. Correlation among hypertension, cognitive abilities and biomarkers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males or females diagnosed with arterial hypertension between 40 and 65 years of age;
• Written informed consent prior to enrollment in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Precedent acute myocardial infarction (AMI);
• Previous stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (TIA);
• Previous or concomitant neurologic or psychiatric pathologies;
• Neurologic or psychiatric pharmacological therapy.

Patients will be selected from the Department of Angiocardioneurology and Translational Medicine of the IRCCS Neuromed, according to specific inclusion criteria. Approximatey 80 subjects per group, aged between 40 and 65 years, will be included in the study.