Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting
With an aging population, the incidence of both ischemic heart disease and strokes have become the most prevalent diseases globally. These diseases have similar risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. However, there is also evidence of a relationship between the heart and the brai...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/171 |
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| author | Alexa R. Lauinger Joseph J. Sepe |
| author_facet | Alexa R. Lauinger Joseph J. Sepe |
| author_sort | Alexa R. Lauinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With an aging population, the incidence of both ischemic heart disease and strokes have become the most prevalent diseases globally. These diseases have similar risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. However, there is also evidence of a relationship between the heart and the brain, referred to as the heart–brain axis. In this relationship, dysfunction of either organs can lead to injury to the other. There are several proposed physiologies to explain this relationship. These theories usually involve vascular, neuromodulatory, and inflammatory processes; however, few articles have explored and compared these different mechanisms of interaction between the heart and brain. A better understanding of the heart–brain axis can inform physicians of current and future treatment and preventive care options in heart and brain pathologies. The relationship between the brain and heart depends on inflammation, vascular anatomy and function, and neuromodulation. The pathways connecting these organs often become injured or dysfunctional when a major pathology, such as a myocardial infarction or stroke, occurs. This leads to long-term impacts on the patient’s overall health and risk for future disease. This study summarizes the current research involved in the heart–brain axis, relates these interactions to different diseases, and proposes future research in the field of neurocardiology. Conditions of the brain and heart are some of the most prevalent diseases. Through understanding the connection between these two organs, we can help inform patients and physicians of novel therapeutics for these pathologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8cb7ff55b3cb48f5be2821e4c932aa12 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-8cb7ff55b3cb48f5be2821e4c932aa122025-01-24T13:24:16ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-01-0113117110.3390/biomedicines13010171Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical SettingAlexa R. Lauinger0Joseph J. Sepe1Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USADepartment of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USAWith an aging population, the incidence of both ischemic heart disease and strokes have become the most prevalent diseases globally. These diseases have similar risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. However, there is also evidence of a relationship between the heart and the brain, referred to as the heart–brain axis. In this relationship, dysfunction of either organs can lead to injury to the other. There are several proposed physiologies to explain this relationship. These theories usually involve vascular, neuromodulatory, and inflammatory processes; however, few articles have explored and compared these different mechanisms of interaction between the heart and brain. A better understanding of the heart–brain axis can inform physicians of current and future treatment and preventive care options in heart and brain pathologies. The relationship between the brain and heart depends on inflammation, vascular anatomy and function, and neuromodulation. The pathways connecting these organs often become injured or dysfunctional when a major pathology, such as a myocardial infarction or stroke, occurs. This leads to long-term impacts on the patient’s overall health and risk for future disease. This study summarizes the current research involved in the heart–brain axis, relates these interactions to different diseases, and proposes future research in the field of neurocardiology. Conditions of the brain and heart are some of the most prevalent diseases. Through understanding the connection between these two organs, we can help inform patients and physicians of novel therapeutics for these pathologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/171heart–brain axiscardiovascular diseasestrokeautonomic neuromodulation |
| spellingShingle | Alexa R. Lauinger Joseph J. Sepe Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting Biomedicines heart–brain axis cardiovascular disease stroke autonomic neuromodulation |
| title | Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting |
| title_full | Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting |
| title_fullStr | Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting |
| title_short | Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart–Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting |
| title_sort | vascularization innervation and inflammation pathways connecting the heart brain axis and implications in a clinical setting |
| topic | heart–brain axis cardiovascular disease stroke autonomic neuromodulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/171 |
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