Brain Region Linked to High Blood Pressure Offers New Treatment Hope

Scientists have pinpointed a specific area in the brainstem that appears to play a key role in regulating blood pressure, potentially opening new avenues for treatment. The discovery, centered around the lateral parafacial region, suggests that how we breathe – particularly forceful exhalations – can directly influence blood pressure levels.

How Breathing and Blood Pressure Are Connected

The lateral parafacial region, located in the brainstem, is responsible for controlling automatic functions like breathing, digestion and heart rate. Researchers at the University of Auckland found that this region isn’t just involved in normal breathing; it’s also activated during forceful exhalations like those experienced during laughter, exercise, or coughing ¹.

“The lateral parafacial region is recruited into action causing us to exhale during a laugh, exercise or coughing,” explains Professor Julian Paton, director of Manaaki Manawa, Centre for Heart Research at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland ². These forceful exhalations rely on the powerful contraction of abdominal muscles, a process distinct from normal, elastic-driven exhalations.

The research team discovered that the lateral parafacial region connects to nerves that constrict blood vessels, thereby raising blood pressure ¹. In experiments, inactivating this brain region led to a normalization of blood pressure, indicating a direct causal link.

The Brain’s Role in Hypertension

“We’ve unearthed a new region of the brain that is causing high blood pressure. Yes, the brain is to blame for hypertension!” says Professor Paton ¹. The findings suggest that specific breathing patterns, especially those involving strong abdominal muscle contractions, can contribute to elevated blood pressure. Identifying abdominal breathing in individuals with hypertension may help pinpoint the underlying cause and guide more targeted treatment strategies.

A Potential New Treatment Target

Although directly targeting the brain with medication can be challenging due to its widespread effects, researchers have identified a promising alternative. They discovered that the lateral parafacial region is activated by signals originating from the carotid bodies – tiny clusters of cells in the neck that monitor blood oxygen levels ².

Because the carotid bodies can be safely targeted with medication, this offers a potential pathway for indirectly influencing the lateral parafacial region. “Our goal is to target the carotid bodies, and we are importing a new drug that is being repurposed by us to quench carotid body activity and inactivate ‘remotely’ the lateral parafacial region safely, i.e., without needing to apply a drug that penetrates the brain,” explains Professor Paton ².

This discovery could be particularly relevant for individuals with sleep apnea, where carotid body activity increases during periods of interrupted breathing.

Looking Ahead

This research, published in Circulation Research, represents a significant step forward in understanding the neurological basis of high blood pressure and offers hope for the development of more effective and targeted treatments. Further research is underway to refine these approaches and explore their potential clinical applications.