brain cells found that stabilize blood pressure despite normal readings

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine identified a small group of brainstem nerve cells that help maintain steady blood pressure throughout daily activities, according to ScienceDaily Health.

These cells limit rapid or excessive blood pressure fluctuations, which can increase risks of heart disease, stroke, and brain injury even when average blood pressure readings are normal.

The study showed that losing just a few hundred of these nerve cells leads to unstable blood pressure despite normal average values, indicating the importance of moment-to-moment regulation.

These nerve cells are also damaged or missing in people with multiple system atrophy, a neurological disorder linked to Parkinson's disease, which is often accompanied by severe blood pressure regulation problems.

The findings suggest that disruptions in these brain cells may contribute to unstable blood pressure in other conditions where standard measurements appear normal, opening avenues for new treatments to protect heart and brain health.