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Causal relationship between hypertension and epilepsy: a mendelian randomization study

Zhen Sun1, Tong Jiang1, Mengwen Zhang1

  • 1Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.

Acta Epileptologica
|April 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension, particularly systolic blood pressure, may increase epilepsy risk. Further research is needed to understand the complex link between high blood pressure and neurological disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular health and neurology
  • Genetic epidemiology

Background:

  • Emerging evidence links hypertension to increased epilepsy risk.
  • Understanding the cardiovascular-neurological disorder interaction is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential causal relationship between hypertension (systolic and diastolic) and epilepsy.
  • Utilizing a Mendelian randomization approach for robust analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Two-sample Mendelian randomization design.
  • Data sourced from UK Biobank, FinnGen, and International Consortium of Blood Pressure.
  • Single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables for hypertension and epilepsy risk.

Main Results:

  • A potential association was found between systolic hypertension and elevated epilepsy risk.
  • The link between diastolic hypertension and epilepsy risk was inconclusive.
  • Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability of findings, showing no significant heterogeneity or confounding.

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests a potential causal link between systolic hypertension and epilepsy.
  • Further research into mechanisms like vascular changes, neuroinflammation, and cerebral blood flow is warranted.
  • This work contributes to understanding the complex hypertension-epilepsy nexus.
Abstract

Keywords:
EpilepsyHypertensionMendelian randomizationSystolic blood pressure

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