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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychological disorder provoked by distressing experiences, and it remains without highly effective intervention strategies. The exploration of PTSD's underlying mechanisms is crucial for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Current studies primarily explore PTSD through the lens of the central nervous system, investigating concrete molecular alterations in the cerebral area and neural circuit irregularities. However, the body's response to external stressors, particularly the changes in cardiovascular function, is often pronounced, evidenced by notable cardiac dysfunction. Consequently, examining PTSD with a focus on cardiac function is vital for the early prevention and targeted management of the disorder. This review undertakes a comprehensive literature analysis to detail the alterations in brain and heart structures and functions associated with PTSD. It also synthesizes potential mechanisms of heart-brain axis interactions relevant to the development of PTSD. Ultimately, by considering cardiac function, this review proposes novel perspectives for PTSD's prophylaxis and therapy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ejn.16445 | DOI Listing |
J Alzheimers Dis
September 2025
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
BackgroundArteriosclerosis in the heart-brain axis has emerged as an important area of study in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia research. While previous research primarily focused on structural brain changes, the relationship between arteriosclerosis and blood-based markers for AD dementia remains understudied.ObjectiveTo comprehensively assess arteriosclerosis in the heart-brain axis and investigate its link to AD dementia plasma markers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cardiovasc Med
August 2025
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Chronic pain (CP) is highly prevalent, and a substantial proportion of patients concurrently suffer from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), suggesting a complex interplay between these two conditions. CP increases the risk of CVD through multiple mechanisms, including sympathetic overactivation, neuroimmune inflammatory responses, endocrine and metabolic dysregulation, and bidirectional regulation along the heart-brain axis. Moreover, pharmacological treatments traditionally used for CP, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids and related agents, are associated with heightened cardiovascular risks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Neurol Neurosci Rep
August 2025
Department of Neurology, UNM Neurology MSC10 5620 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
Purpose Of Review: This review examines the evolving field of neurocardiology, tracing its development from early homeostatic theories to modern understandings of the bidirectional neural networks that link the heart and brain. We propose an integrative framework to explain neuro-cardiac interactions in health and disease, with a focus on clinical applications and emerging therapies.
Recent Findings: The neuro-cardiac axis comprises hierarchical neural networks, from the intrinsic cardiac nervous system to subcortical and cortical brain regions.
Cells
July 2025
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), traditionally associated with renal function, has also been identified in various extrarenal tissues, including the heart, brain, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in rodents. Previous studies suggest a role for the MR in modulating peripheral nociception, with MR activation in rat DRG neurons by its endogenous ligand, aldosterone. This study aimed to determine whether MR, its protective enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), its endogenous ligand aldosterone, and the aldosterone-synthesizing enzyme CYP11B2 are expressed in human DRG neurons and whether they colocalize with key pain-associated signaling molecules as potential targets for genomic regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Cardiovasc Imaging
August 2025
Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria (A.O.U.) di Cagliari, Polo di Monserrato s.s. 554 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction, often triggered by psychological or physiological stress. Increasing evidence highlights the critical role of the brain-heart axis in TS, with small blood vessels acting as central mediators. Recent data indicate a significant association between TS and cerebrovascular events, particularly ischemic stroke.
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