MMP9 and Hypertension: While we found severe vessel stenosis index in all individuals, both hypertensives and controls, larger microvascular GLUT1 intensity per microvasculature in hypertensive individuals was observed; this may suggest compensatory reaction to ischemia.22,23 Notably, we observed larger perivascular MMP9 and IgG extravasation in periventricular NAWM and WMH of individuals with hypertension than in control individuals, indicating vascular remodeling/inflammation and BBB disruption.