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Cortico-Limbic and Sensorimotor Network Connectivity Link Brain Function to Atherosclerosis in Chronic Stress: Beyond
Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|September 15, 2025
Summary
Chronic stress accelerates atherosclerosis by disrupting brain circuits. This study reveals new brain regions, beyond the amygdala-prefrontal cortex, involved in this pathway, offering novel therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Science
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Chronic stress is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Cortico-limbic circuit dysregulation and systemic inflammation are proposed mechanisms.
- Previous research focused on amygdala-prefrontal cortex (PFC) connectivity, neglecting other brain regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional and structural brain connectivity in the stress-atherosclerosis pathway.
- To identify brain regions beyond the amygdala-PFC axis involved in stress-related CVD.
- To offer a comprehensive framework for understanding neural mechanisms linking stress and CVD.
Main Methods:
- Multimodal imaging: brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and vascular imaging.
- Assessment of functional and structural connectivity between the amygdala and broader brain networks.
- Distinguishing participants based on atherosclerotic burden using connectivity measures.
Main Results:
- Functional and structural amygdala connectivity measures differentiated participants with higher versus lower atherosclerotic burden.
- Findings confirm the role of amygdala-PFC connectivity.
- Highlighted the involvement of sensorimotor and autonomic processing regions, including sensorimotor cortices and cerebellum, in the stress-atherosclerosis pathway.
Conclusions:
- Brain connectivity alterations in sensorimotor and autonomic regions are implicated in the link between chronic stress and atherosclerosis.
- Expanding the focus beyond the amygdala-PFC axis provides a more complete understanding of stress-related CVD mechanisms.
- These findings may inform novel neuroimmune modulation therapies for cardiovascular disease.
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