A study by the University of São Paulo in Brazil and the United States University of Auckland in New Zealand has found evidence that a specific brain region could be contributing to some cases of high blood pressure. The lateral parafacial (pFL) brain region, linked to breathing control, can trigger biological changes that raise blood pressure and tighten up blood vessels. This could explain why around 40 percent of people still have uncontrolled blood pressure despite taking anti-hypertensive medications. The study suggests that pFL neurons may link breathing rhythms to increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system, which helps control blood pressure, fitting with previous research linking hypertension to the brain and nervous system. The finding also revealed a new potential treatment pathway. The researchers are working to target the carotid bodies and are importing a new drug from the lab to target this area.