Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with aerobic exercise training in resistant hypertensive subjects to ventilatory, hemodynamic, autonomic and immunological parameters

• Grant number: 17/24726-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2018
• End date: April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Rodrigues
• Grantee: Catarina de Andrade Barboza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Educação Física (FEF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Resistant hypertension (RH) is a complex and multifactorial disease and has been associated with sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity (SNS) and reduction of vagal activity. Increasing the complexity of understanding their pathophysiological mechanisms, recent studies have demonstrated relationships between the autonomic and immune systems. Invasive therapies, as well as physical exercise protocols, have been developed for the treatment of RH; however, hyperactivity of the SNS still remains a challenge for the blood pressure (BP) control. Thus, the use of cerebral stimulation techniques, such as non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the cerebral cortex of RH subjects seems promising due to potential modulation of BP levels. Previous studies have shown that cortical sympathetic modulation by tDCS may reduce blood pressure levels, improve autonomic function and exercise capacity; however, the main outcomes were associated with improved psychic depression in non-RH patients, as well as with the performance of athletes. Thus, the current randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate in RH patients: 1) the presence of periodic breathing and breathing variability during exercise, as well as to test the effects of tDCS on these variables; 2) the effects of tDCS on aerobic post-exercise hypotension; We hypothesized that tDCS may positively modulate cardiorespiratory responses during an exercise test and potentiate hypotensive effects of exercise, possibly mediated by autonomic and inflammatory changes. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RODRIGUES, BRUNO; BARBOZA, CATARINA A.; MOURA, ELIEZER G.; MINISTRO, GABRIELA; FERREIRA-MELO, SILVIA E.; CASTANO, JAVIER B.; RUBERTI, OLIVIA M.; DE AMORIM, RIVADAVIO F. B.; MORENO, JR., HEITOR. Transcranial direct current stimulation modulates autonomic nervous system and reduces ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensives. CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL HYPERTENSION, v. 43, n. 4, p. 320-327, MAY 19 2021. (16/18104-5, 17/24726-1)

BARBOZA, CATARINA DE ANDRADE; MOURA, ELIEZER GUIMARAES; MINISTRO, GABRIELA; CASTANO, JAVIER BEDOYA; SILVA SANTOS, GABRIELA C.; DIAS JUNIOR, GILMAR; MORENO JUNIOR, HEITOR; RODRIGUES, BRUNO. Central blood pressure and aortic pulse wave reflection in water-exercised postmenopausal hypertensive women: A cross-sectional study. Experimental Gerontology, v. 143, JAN 2021. (17/24726-1, 17/21320-4)

MINISTRO, GABRIELA; CASTANO, JAVIER B.; BARBOZA, CATARINA A.; MOURA, ELIEZER G.; FERREIRA-MELO, SILVIA E.; MOSTARDA, CRISTIANO T.; FATTORI, ANDRE; MORENO-JUNIOR, HEITOR; RODRIGUES, BRUNO. ACUTE TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION (tDCS) IMPROVES VENTILATORY VARIABILITY AND AUTONOMIC MODULATION IN RESISTANT HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, v. 297, p. 8-pg., 2022-03-01. (16/18104-5, 17/24726-1)

RODRIGUES, BRUNO; BARBOZA, CATARINA A.; MOURA, ELIEZER G.; MINISTRO, GABRIELA; FERREIRA-MELO, SILVIA E.; CASTANO, JAVIER B.; NUNES, WILTON M. S.; MOSTARDA, CRISTIANO; COCA, ANTONIO; VIANNA, LAURO C.; et al. Acute and Short-Term Autonomic and Hemodynamic Responses to Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients With Resistant Hypertension. FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE, v. 9, p. 16-pg., 2022-03-11. (16/18104-5, 17/24726-1)