Breathing-Linked Brain Region Implicated in Hypertension, Offering New Treatment Avenues
Researchers have identified a brainstem area called the lateral parafacial region that links breathing to nerves that constrict blood vessels, driving high blood pressure when activated. Inhibiting this region normalizes blood pressure, and signals triggering it originate in part from neck carotid bodies, suggesting a treatment approach that targets these sensors rather than the brain itself. The findings, published in Circulation Research, could lead to new therapies for hypertension and possibly sleep apnea.
