Transcranial direct current stimulation modulates autonomic nervous system and reduces ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensives

Author(s)

Rodrigues, Bruno ^{[1, 2]} ; Barboza, Catarina A. ^{[1, 2]} ; Moura, Eliezer G. ^{[1, 2]} ; Ministro, Gabriela ^{[1, 2]} ; Ferreira-Melo, Silvia E. ^[2] ; Castano, Javier B. ^{[1, 2]} ; Ruberti, Olivia M. ^[3] ; De Amorim, Rivadavio F. B. ^[4] ; Moreno, Jr., Heitor ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Sch Phys Educ, Dept Adapted Phys Act, Ave Erico Verissimo, 701 Barao Geraldo, BR-13083851 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Lab Cardiovasc Pharmacol & Hypertens, Sch Med Sci, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Lab Vasc Biol, Dept Struct & Funct Biol, Inst Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Brasilia UNB, Fac Med, Brasilia, DF - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL HYPERTENSION; v. 43, n. 4, p. 320-327, MAY 19 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

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 (R), 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 (Delta = -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 (Delta = -8.4 +/- 6.2; P = .0022) and 24hs-diastolic blood pressure (Delta = -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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/18104-5 - Sympatholytic effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on blood pressure levels in resistant hypertensive subjects - A novel therapeutic approach
• Grantee: Heitor Moreno Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/24726-1 - Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with aerobic exercise training in resistant hypertensive subjects to ventilatory, hemodynamic, autonomic and immunological parameters
• Grantee: Catarina de Andrade Barboza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral