Heart-brain axis pathophysiological understanding and clinical impact.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• The heart and brain are interconnected via nervous and humoral pathways, maintaining homeostasis under normal conditions.
• Pathological conditions in one organ significantly affect the other, impacting patient prognosis.
• The heart-brain axis plays a crucial role in overall health, with disruptions leading to severe consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pathological interactions within the heart-brain axis.
• To explore these interactions in the context of stroke, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
• To summarize current evidence on the bidirectional communication between the heart and brain.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing evidence on heart-brain axis interactions.
• Analysis of pathological mechanisms linking cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
• Synthesis of findings related to stroke-heart syndrome and cardiac conditions affecting the brain.

Main Results:

• Stroke-heart syndrome involves cardiovascular complications like myocardial injury, arrhythmias, and heart failure following ischemic stroke.
• Brain damage triggers cardiac injury through neuroinflammation, immune activation, and sympathetic-immune interactions.
• Cardiac conditions such as myocardial ischemia, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation increase stroke and cognitive decline risk.

Conclusions:

• The heart-brain axis is a critical determinant of health, with bidirectional pathological crosstalk.
• Understanding these interactions is vital for managing stroke, heart disease, and related neurological conditions.
• Further research into the heart-brain axis mechanisms can lead to improved therapeutic strategies.