Structural Changes in the Human Brain in Hypertension

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and stroke. Abnormalities in blood pressure regulation in hypertension are due to the dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is governed by the brain. Therefore, we investigated the changes in the structure of the brain, the sympathetic nervous system, and the blood pressure to understand the role of the brain in developing high blood pressure. We found that structural changes in the brain associated with abnormal sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure occurs in hypertensive patients, highlighting the contribution of the brain in developing high blood pressure.