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The effects of hypertension on the paediatric brain: a justifiable concern

Madhu Sharma1, Juan C Kupferman, Yuri Brosgol

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Maimonides Infants and Childrens' Hospital, New York, NY, USA.

The Lancet. Neurology
|August 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Childhood hypertension increasingly affects the nervous system, causing acute issues like posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and chronic learning disabilities. Early treatment may reverse cognitive deficits linked to blood pressure in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Childhood hypertension prevalence is rising.
  • Neurological effects of pediatric hypertension are under-recognized.
  • Hypertension in children poses significant risks to nervous system health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the acute and chronic neurological effects of childhood hypertension.
  • To highlight the link between pediatric hypertension and cognitive function.
  • To emphasize the need for further research into biomarkers and clinical studies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on pediatric hypertension and neurological outcomes.
  • Analysis of acute neurological manifestations.
  • Assessment of chronic cognitive and vascular effects.

Main Results:

  • Acute neurological involvement includes posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, infarction, and hemorrhage.
  • Chronic hypertension in children is associated with learning disabilities and executive function deficiencies.
  • Cognitive deficits may stem from altered cerebral blood flow regulation and early atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood hypertension has diverse neurological impacts, from acute syndromes to chronic cognitive impairments.
  • Antihypertensive treatment may reverse cognitive deficits in children.
  • Further clinical studies and biomarker identification are crucial for understanding and managing pediatric hypertension's neurological sequelae.

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