Chronic stress is a leading contributor to hypertension, a condition that significantly increases the risk of heart disease and premature death. However, new research from Juntendo University in Japan reveals that voluntary exercise may offer a potent remedy for stress-induced high blood pressure by restoring a crucial brain mechanism.
The study, published online in Acta Physiologica on January 13, 2025, by Professor Hidefumi Waki and colleagues, identifies the gene STAT3 in the amygdala as a key player in this process. The amygdala, an almond-shaped structure in the brain associated with emotions, regulates cardiovascular responses to stress. When subjected to chronic stress, rats in the study exhibited increased blood pressure and reduced STAT3 levels in the amygdala. Remarkably, exercise reversed these effects, normalizing blood pressure and restoring STAT3 expression.
Professor Waki emphasized that “STAT3 in the amygdala plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure and may contribute to the blood pressure spikes caused by chronic stress. Voluntary exercise seems to aid in mitigating these stress responses.”
The research team, led by Dr. Keisuke Tomita and Dr. Ko Yamanaka, subjected rats to three weeks of chronic stress, with one group also engaging in voluntary wheel running. After analyzing blood pressure and gene expression in the amygdala, the researchers found that stress-induced hypertension was accompanied by decreased STAT3 expression. Exercise, however, not only prevented the rise in blood pressure but also restored the expression of STAT3 in the brain.
Further experiments revealed that blocking STAT3 expression in the amygdala—without any external stress—led to a significant increase in blood pressure, underscoring the gene’s pivotal role in cardiovascular regulation.
According to Professor Waki, the beneficial effects of exercise on cardiovascular health are likely due to mechanisms such as neuroprotection and anti-inflammation, which help restore proper STAT3 function in the brain.
This discovery introduces a novel brain-based mechanism for exercise’s ability to combat hypertension, particularly stress-induced high blood pressure. While regular physical activity has long been recommended for overall heart health, this study suggests it could also serve as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for hypertension, anxiety, and other stress-related conditions.
However, the researchers caution that further studies in humans are necessary to confirm these findings and explore whether targeting STAT3 could lead to new therapeutic strategies for hypertension.
“Future studies will be essential to clarify the exact role of STAT3 in stress-induced hypertension and the potential for exercise and drug-based approaches to modulate its activity,” concluded Professor Waki.
The team’s next steps include investigating whether specific types of exercise or even pharmacological interventions can enhance STAT3 activity in the amygdala, providing a new avenue for protecting against hypertension.
In the meantime, this research reinforces the simple yet powerful message: exercise is beneficial not only for the body but also for the brain.
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