Science
Researchers identify parts of the brain damaged by high blood pressure, linked to dementia
For the first time, in a study part-funded by us, researchers have identified specific regions of the brain that are damaged by high blood pressure and may contribute to a decline in mental processes and the development of dementia.
High blood pressure is known to play a role in causing dementia and damage to brain function. The study, published in the European Heart Journal today, shows how this happens.
It used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brains, as well as analysis of observational and genetic data from thousands of patients, to look at the effect of high blood pressure on cognitive function. The researchers then checked their findings in a separate, large group of patients in Italy.
Nine affected areas
High blood pressure is common and occurs in an estimated 30 per cent of adults worldwide. Until now it was not known exactly how high blood pressure damages the brain and which specific regions are affected.
The researchers found changes to nine parts of the brain were related to higher blood pressure and worse cognitive function, such as memory loss and a decline in thinking skills. This may be how high blood pressure increases the risk of developing conditions like vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The nine brain areas included the putamen, which is a round structure in the base of the front of the brain, responsible for regulating movement and influencing various types of learning.
Also affected were regions of white matter that connect and enable signalling between different parts of the brain.
The changes in these areas included alterations to connections between different parts of the brain, and changes in measures of brain activity.
“This could help with precision medicine”
By studying genes and proteins in these specific brain areas, researchers may be able to develop new treatments for people with cognitive impairment and high blood pressure.
Tomasz Guzik, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, who led the research, said: “By looking at these specific regions of the brain, we may be able to predict who will develop memory loss and dementia faster in the context of high blood pressure.
"This could help with precision medicine, so that we can target more intensive therapies to prevent the development of cognitive impairment in patients most at risk.”
Professor James Leiper, our Associate Medical Director, said: “By identifying specific areas of the brain which are damaged by high blood pressure, researchers have taken a significant step forward in our understanding of the concerning link between high blood pressure and cognitive decline.
"The nine brain areas identified can become nine new points of focus for further research on how high blood pressure causes damage.
“Cognitive decline can be very debilitating and scary for those patients suffering from it. By continuing to improve our understanding of how the changes in these brain areas affect cognitive function, we could potentially find new ways of stopping many people with high blood pressure from having to experience it.”