Transcranial direct current stimulation modulates autonomic nervous system and reduces ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensives. (19th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodrigues, Bruno; Barboza, Catarina A.; Moura, Eliezer G.; Ministro, Gabriela; Ferreira-Melo, Silvia E.; Castaño, Javier B.; Ruberti, Olivia M.; De Amorim, Rivadávio F. B.; Moreno, Heitor
• Is Part Of: Clinical and experimental hypertension. Volume 43:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 327
• Publication Date: 2021-05-19
• Subjects: Hypertension -- Autonomic Modulation -- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) -- Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement; Hypertension -- Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Hypotensive agents -- Periodicals; 616.132
• DOI: 10.1080/10641963.2021.1871916
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-1963

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Purpose : Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) seems to positively modulate the autonomic nervous system in different clinical conditions and healthy subjects; however, its effects on hypertensive (HTN) patients are not completely known. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a tDCS or SHAM session (20 min) on blood pressure (BP) and autonomic variables of HTN patients. Materials and Methods : Subjects (n = 13) were randomly submitted to SHAM and tDCS sessions (1 week of washout ). Hemodynamic and autonomic variables were measured at baseline, during, and immediately after tDCS or SHAM stimulation (Finometer®, Beatscope). Ambulatory BP measurement (ABPM) was evaluated after the experimental period. Results : Hemodynamic variables were not changed by tDCS, except for the fall in peripheral vascular resistance (Δ = −1696.51 ± 204.65 dyn.s/cm5). After the tDCS, sympathetic modulation was decreased (−61.47%), and vagal modulation was increased (+38.09%). Such acute autonomic changes may have evoked positive results observed in 24 hs-systolic blood pressure (Δ = −8.4 ± 6.2; P = .0022) and 24hs-diastolic blood pressure (Δ = −5.4 ± 4.2; P = .0010) in tDCS subjects compared with that in SHAM. Conclusion : These findings suggest that the tDCS could promote positive acute adjustments on cardiac autonomic control and reduced values on 24-hs BP of HTN patients. More than a proof-of-concept, these results may point out to the future, where brain stimulation (tDCS) can be used to HTN syndromes, such as refractory HTN.