Brain Region Linked to Hypertension Offers New Target for Treatment
International researchers identified a brain area that can trigger high blood pressure and demonstrated that silencing it normalizes pressure in rats.
Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Auckland reported that the lateral parafacial region of the brain (pFL) can initiate neurogenic hypertension by stimulating sympathetic activity and narrowing blood vessels. In rat experiments, activation of pFL neurons raised blood pressure, whereas experimental deactivation returned it to baseline. The team mapped brainstem circuits and connected the findings to the higher hypertension risk observed in sleep-apnea patients.
They propose targeting carotid body chemoreceptors and using pyridoxal-5-phosphate, an active form of vitamin B6, which reduced systolic pressure by an average of 16 mmHg in rodents and showed promise in early human trials. This discovery could open a new therapeutic pathway for a condition affecting roughly one-third of the global population.
Why it matters
It reveals a brain-based cause of hypertension and suggests novel treatment avenues for a leading global health threat.
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