Our current knowledge suggests that hypertension may favor synaptic impairment by reducing glutamate concentration, down-regulating the expression of neuroprotective genes, such as BDNF and Igf-1, up-regulating Ang II levels and oxidative stress, and interfering with several signaling pathways that support synaptic plasticity, such as NMDARs, AMPARs, and CaMKII. The gene discussed is BDNF; the disease is hypertensive disorder.