Scientists talked about the effects of excess salt on the brain and hypertension

A new study has revealed that a high-salt diet not only affects the kidneys and blood vessels, but also causes inflammation in the brain, which contributes to an increase in blood pressure. This discovery calls into question long-standing ideas about hypertension and suggests new approaches to the treatment of this disease. This is stated in an article published on August 23 in the journal Science Daily (SD).

Masha Prager-Hawtorsky, a professor of physiology at McGill University, the head of the study, noted that this discovery could be an important step in the development of new treatments for hypertension aimed at the brain. Hypertension affects two thirds of people over the age of 60 and causes 10 million deaths worldwide each year. This disease is often asymptomatic, but it significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems.

About a third of patients do not respond to standard drugs that affect blood vessels and kidneys, since for a long time it was believed that hypertension occurs in these organs. However, the results of a new study show that the brain may be a key factor in the occurrence of hypertension, especially in cases resistant to treatment.

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To simulate a human diet, rats were given water with added salt (2%), which mimics a diet rich in fast food, bacon, instant noodles, and processed cheeses. This diet activated immune cells in a specific area of the brain, causing inflammation and the release of the hormone vasopressin, which increases blood pressure. The scientists used the latest neuroimaging techniques and laboratory techniques that have recently become available to track these changes.

"The role of the brain in hypertension has been ignored for a long time, partly due to the complexity of the study, but with new methods we can observe these changes in real time," said Prager-Hawtorsky.

The researchers used rats instead of the more familiar mice, as rats regulate salt and water in the body more similarly to humans, which makes the results of the study more relevant to humans. In the future, scientists plan to find out whether similar processes are involved in the development of other forms of hypertension.

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Popular Science magazine reported on August 14 that reducing salt intake can have a beneficial effect on health. However, replacing standard table salt with sodium bromide can cause acne, involuntary muscle spasms, and psychotic disorders.

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