Key result
Heart-brain axis demonstrates bidirectional crosstalk, underscoring need for multidisciplinary cardiovascular and neurologic care.
Why the study?
The integrated bidirectional communication between the heart and brain through neural and hormonal pathways and its clinical implications require comprehensive examination.
Design
Review article
Understanding the integrated heart-brain axis is crucial for multidisciplinary management of interrelated cardiovascular and neurologic disorders.
The heart and brain are an integrated, bidirectional axis, communicating through neural and hormonal pathways. This article examines the neuroanatomy, physiologic interactions, and clinical implications of this vital system. Anatomically, the cardiac autonomic nervous system features extrinsic sympathetic (norepinephrine) and parasympathetic (acetylcholine) innervation, fine-tuned by the local intrinsic cardiac nervous system. Cardiovascular diseases impair brain function, raising the risk of cognitive decline and stroke. Conversely, neurologic disorders can trigger cardiac complications via autonomic imbalance. Stress and emotions are significant factors, making mind-body techniques a therapeutic prospect. Understanding this integrated axis is crucial for multidisciplinary management.
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Kato et al. (2026) reported a review. The heart and brain form an integrated, bidirectional axis where cardiovascular and neurologic disorders mutually influence each other, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary management.
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