According to researchers from Oxford University and the Royal College of London, stimulating certain areas of the brain with electrodes can alter the blood pressure of patients.
The authors indicate that this appears to be a rather aggressive method for treating hypertension, but it could assist in cases where conventional therapies have failed. Furthermore, the specialists’ research sheds light on the brain regions that control blood pressure, paving the way for new treatment methods.
The research team, comprising neurosurgeons and physiologists, discovered blood pressure changes while placing brain electrodes on 15 patients to alleviate pain. Deep brain stimulation involves placing extremely thin electrodes at very precise locations in the brain and has been used to relieve pain and assist Parkinson’s patients. However, the experts found they could increase or decrease blood pressure by stimulating certain brain areas with electrodes.
Lead researcher Alexander Green noted that clearly, this method involves brain surgery, so caution is paramount. Perhaps this method should only be used for patients for whom medication has proven ineffective. Other research groups are also exploring ways to stimulate specific brain areas without the need for surgical electrode placement, such as using nanotechnology. If successful, they could attract a significant number of patients for treatment.
Minh Sơn
