One of my favorite news stories of this week has to do with a new scientific finding by researchers in New Zealand that has to do with possible treatment for brain related illnesses. The research has found evidence that the brain has blood pressure sensors that are released when blood pressure becomes to high or low, and these chemicals are meant to help regulate and bring it back to a healthier pressure. As Professor Alexander Gourine from the UCL Division of Biosciences UCL Division of Biosciences puts it “When blood supply is reduced, they release a chemical signal to nearby nerve cells that raise blood pressure, restoring blood flow to the brain. What we have discovered is that the brain has an automatic way to make sure that brain blood flow is preserved” Science Daily. This is something that scientists have believed to have existed for years, but this is the first time that there is conclusive proof of these sensors existence. Gourine has been further working with researchers from various perts of London and New Zealand to see how these brain sensors can be beneficial.
This is very important because as GoodNewsNetwork puts it Good News Network “It could pave the way towards new treatments for dementia, high blood pressure, migraines, and a dozen other conditions”. Dementia is something that most people believe is something that is simply inevitable as old age comes, but now with new findings like this, this does not necessarily have to be the case. Part of the reason why I like this story so much is because it reflects how important it is to fund research and education. There are many science discoveries in the health world we often take for granted, such as vaccinations or antibiotics, but none of this would be possible without the people working tirelessly in a lab trying to find a cure for these illnesses.
Throughout all of my years in school, science was never a strong suit of mine and it was not something I was even remotely interested in as a career, but I still carry a lot of respect for the people like those working at or associated with the UCL Division of Biosciences, and am excited to see where their further research can take them. It is very scary to think that when I am older there is a possibility I will forget my loved ones, but with people like this working hard, this might not have to be something future generations will ever worry about.
howdy 🙂 I adore your passion blog idea; so rarely do we see positive news in the media, and it’s always refreshing to hear some good news. This post about scientific advancements in treating brain related illnesses is both exciting and hopeful. Just as you said, I’m not incredibly involved in the sciences, but this is such a universal story and development that can benefit and affect so many people. Having lost a loved one to dementia and complications with old age, it’s definitely something I worry about – fingers crossed we’ll continue to make strides and be able to alleviate that worry for thousands of current and potential suffers. Keep writing about happy stories 🙂
This is such an uplifting post! I watched my grandmother struggle with dementia as she got older and it was very sad to see because she was always so on top of everything when she was younger. It gives me hope for my future and the future of my loved ones that there have been advances in research in this area. I appreciate your blog post because this is a story that I have not heard about from any larger media corporations, but I still think that it is an important story to know. I hope that research in this area continues and that eventually dementia and other tragic diseases can be cured.