Roman researchers shed light on another possible factor that may induce brain damage. They employed novel imaging techniques to monitor damaged nerve tracts connecting different parts of the brain and its association with high blood pressure / hypertension. Researchers mentioned the affected part of the brain is associated with difficulties in intelligence skills, decision-making, and the ability to regulate emotions.

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The senior author of the study, Daniela Carnevale from Sapienza University of Rome, shares "We already have clear ways to explore the damage high blood pressure can cause to the kidneys, eyes, and heart. We wanted to find a way to assess brain damage that could predict the development of dementia associated with vascular diseases."

Carnevale deviated from the conventional research that concentrated to illustrate the effects of hypertension on the grey matter and proposed to study hypertension-related changes on the brain's white matter and to find out if high blood pressure was affecting the part of the brain even earlier than what is known.

According to DNA, the study was conducted with 15 participants who had moderate to severe high blood pressure and were kept on medication. 15 more healthy individuals with normal blood pressure were also enrolled in the study. Techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), an enhancement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to evaluate and compare the structural and functional properties of the main connections between different brain regions.

The participants of the study were also given a cognitive assessment.  

Business Standard reported that while MRI results have not shown any abnormalities, the DTI results showed hypertension caused damage to brain fibers that affect non-verbal functions; limbic system fibers; and nerve fibers that affect executive functioning and emotional regulation, which are involved in attention tasks.

Additionally, imaging and laboratory tests revealed hypertension affected hearts and kidneys. The cognitive assessment indicated poor cognitive function and memory.

Carnevale suggested that physicians should utilize DTI to monitor individuals with high blood pressure to evaluate pre-symptomatic brain damage and thus, prevent the development of dementia.

TagsHypertension, Brain Damage Causes, dementia prevention, Hypertension Effects, high blood pressure