PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Dearbhla M Kelly AU - Peter M Rothwell TI - Blood pressure and the brain: the neurology of hypertension AID - 10.1136/practneurol-2019-002269 DP - 2020 Apr 01 TA - Practical Neurology PG - 100--108 VI - 20 IP - 2 4099 - http://pn.bmj.com/content/20/2/100.short 4100 - http://pn.bmj.com/content/20/2/100.full SO - Pract Neurol2020 Apr 01; 20 AB - Hypertension affects more than one in four adults. The brain is an early target of hypertension-induced organ damage, and may manifest as stroke, subclinical cerebrovascular abnormalities and dementia. Hypertension-related small vessel disease can cause vascular dementia and can potentiate Alzheimer’s pathology, lowering the threshold at which signs and symptoms manifest. Many hypertensive emergencies may also have a neurological presentation, such as hypertensive encephalopathy, haemorrhagic stroke or pre-eclampsia. Here we highlight the importance of blood pressure in maintaining brain health and the brain’s role in controlling blood pressure.