Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have made an intriguing discovery, recently published in Science, about the effects of blood pressure medications on the brain.
They found that these drugs, typically used to manage blood pressure, have an unexpected influence on the brain’s natural opioids.
This groundbreaking research suggests that blood pressure medications can enhance the effects of the brain’s own opioids.
This finding is particularly significant because it could help counteract the addictive properties of powerful painkillers like fentanyl, which are often used in medical treatments.
Patrick Rothwell, PhD, an assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a member of the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, emphasized the potential of this discovery.
He sees it as a new strategy to augment opioid signaling in the brain in a way that is beneficial and protective, with a minimal risk of causing dependence or addiction.
The study primarily focused on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which is well-known for its role in blood pressure regulation. However, the specific functions of ACE in the brain are not as widely understood.
The findings of this study suggest that ACE inhibitors, a well-established and safe class of blood pressure medications, might be repurposed to treat certain brain conditions.
This research was supported by the Minnesota Discovery, Research, and Innovation Economy (MnDRIVE) initiative and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It was led by Brian Trieu, an MD/PhD candidate from the Rothwell lab.
Collaborating with Dr. Swati More from the Center for Drug Design in the College of Pharmacy, Rothwell and his team are currently working on developing new ACE inhibitors.
Their goal is to optimize these drugs for improved brain function. A Faculty Research Development Grant from the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs is supporting this endeavor.
This discovery opens up exciting new avenues for treating brain conditions, leveraging a class of medications traditionally used for managing blood pressure.
It’s a promising step forward in understanding how we can use existing drugs in novel ways to benefit brain health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and Coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Science.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
