Uncovering neuroprocessing and self-management behaviors in prehypertensive african americans

Aims: African Americans with prehypertension have a 35% greater risk of progressing to hypertension as compared to Caucasian Americans. In this pilot study, we investigated how two neural networks associated with task-oriented and emotional/motivational cognition relate to self-management behaviors in prehypertensive African Americans. Methods. Community dwelling African Americans who met eligibility criteria of prehypertension, a systolic BP 120–139 and diastolic BP 80–89 mmHg, were enrolled. Participants completed brain imaging and surveys on everyday discrimination, self-compassion, decentering, social support, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and the Nutrient Data Systems Report. Data were examined using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Results: Twenty participants, women (n=11) and men (n=9) aged 26–76 (M=51.9, SD=12.2) were enrolled. Findings from our pilot study indicated that everyday discrimination was associated with activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and task positive/default mode networks (r=-.72, p=.05; r=-.70, p=.05 respectively). Activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex was associated with social support (r=.58, p=.06). Self-compassion and decentering were not associated with neurocognitive processing. Although self-efficacy was not associated with neurocognitive processing, self-efficacy was associated with self-regulation (r=.53, p=.03) and decentering (r=.64, p=.05). Conclusions: Findings indicate that neurocognitive processing are associated with everyday discrimination and social support. As we continue to examine the role of neurocognitive processing, we will use these findings to guide future work with self-management interventions and the possible underlying neurobiological mechanisms.