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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Application of Granger Causality Analysis of the Directed Functional Connection in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment
08:43

Application of Granger Causality Analysis of the Directed Functional Connection in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: August 7, 2017

The bidirectional mechanistic links between Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease

Jiaqi You1, Jiawen Yang2

  • 1The First Clinical Medicine School of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China. 2766657782@qq.com.

Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
|June 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) share bidirectional links. Understanding the "cardio-cerebral axis" can improve early risk identification and combined management strategies for these common elderly conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Neurology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are leading global health concerns in the elderly.
  • Emerging research highlights a significant bidirectional relationship between AD and CVD.
  • This review synthesizes the pathological mechanisms connecting AD and CVD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the bidirectional pathological mechanisms linking AD and CVD.
  • To explore the clinical intervention and comorbidity management implications of this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
  • Literature search from 1985-2025 across major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus).
  • Analysis of 149 eligible articles after initial screening of 4,434 studies.

Main Results:

  • CVD promotes AD via ischemia-hypoxia, lipid disorders, inflammation, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction.
  • AD increases CVD risk through autonomic dysfunction, central inflammation spillover, lifestyle factors, and drug side effects.
  • Four core pathways identified for CVD influencing AD, and several mechanisms for AD influencing CVD.

Conclusions:

  • AD and CVD are closely interconnected through multiple mechanisms, forming a
  • cardio-cerebral axis.
  • Understanding this axis aids in early risk detection for comorbid populations.
  • This knowledge can guide combined management strategies for AD and CVD in clinical practice.
Abstract

Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseCardio-cerebral axisCardiovascular diseaseChronic cerebral hypoperfusionNeuroinflammation

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