Hypertension affects brain before blood pressure rises
Hypertension impacts brain before blood pressure rises, study finds.
Why it matters
- Hypertension affects brain cells before blood pressure increases.
- Helps explain link between hypertension and cognitive disorders.
By the numbers
- 1.2 to 1.5-fold higher risk of cognitive disorders in hypertensive patients.
- Gene expression changes observed after 3 and 42 days in mice.
The big picture
- Findings suggest hypertension damages brain independently of blood pressure.
- Potential for new medications to prevent cognitive decline.
What they're saying
- The extent of the early alterations induced by hypertension was quite surprising.
- Study suggests hypertension causes early gene expression changes in brain cells.
Caveats
- Preclinical study in mice; human applicability needs further research.
What’s next
- Investigating how hypertension affects small blood vessels, interneurons, and oligodendrocytes.
- Developing therapeutic strategies to combat neurodegeneration.