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Brain Glitch Linked to High Blood Pressure
10 Apr
Summary
- A specific brain region activates during forceful exhalations, raising blood pressure.
- Inactivating this brain region lowered blood pressure in animal studies.
- New drug could remotely target brain signals without entering the brain.
Researchers have discovered that a specific part of the brain could be the cause of hypertension in some individuals. The lateral parafacial region, located in the brainstem, is activated during forceful exhalations, such as those occurring during laughter or coughing.
This brain region has connections to nerves that constrict blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure. Studies conducted on rats showed that deactivating this specific area led to a normalization of blood pressure. This breakthrough suggests that interventions targeting this region might reverse high blood pressure.
The research, a collaboration between the University of São Paulo and the University of Auckland, found that this brain area is activated by signals from carotid bodies in the neck, which sense blood oxygen levels. Future treatments may involve drugs that safely target these carotid bodies, indirectly affecting the lateral parafacial region without needing to penetrate the brain.
