A recent scientific study suggests that a little-known part of the brain may play a key role in high blood pressure. This area, called the “parafacial zone” (area adjacent to the face), is a bundle of nerves in the brainstem that regulates involuntary functions like digestion, breathing, and heart rate.
Interestingly, this brain region becomes active during activities such as laughing, exercising, or coughing, which involve strong exhalation. Researchers in New Zealand found that stimulating this area can also activate nerves that constrict blood vessels, potentially raising blood pressure and contributing to chronic hypertension.
The Study
Researchers at the University of Auckland experimented on mice by stimulating and inhibiting nerves in the parafacial zone while monitoring blood pressure. They found:
Activation of the area → blood pressure rises.
Inhibition of the area → blood pressure returns to normal.
Dr. Julian Paton, the lead physiologist, said:
"We have discovered a new brain area that causes high blood pressure. Yes, the brain is responsible for hypertension!"
The research team noted that in cases of high blood pressure, the lateral parafacial area is active, and turning it off in mice lowered their blood pressure to normal levels.
Next Steps and Implications
The study was conducted in mice; researchers now aim to find ways to study this brain region in humans.
It is not yet clear how many cases of hypertension might be caused by this mechanism.
Traditional lifestyle factors—such as high-salt diets, stress, obesity, and alcohol consumption—remain major contributors to high blood pressure.
Researchers believe these findings could pave the way for new hypertension treatments targeting specific brain nerves, potentially offering a fresh approach to managing this common condition.
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