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Chen F, Dong X, Yu Z, Zhang Y, Shi Y. The brain-heart axis: Integrative analysis of the shared genetic etiology between neuropsychiatric disorders and cardiovascular disease. J Affect Disord 2024; 355:147-156. [PMID: 38518856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple observational studies have reported substantial comorbidity between neuropsychiatric disorders and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. METHODS Using GWAS summary datasets of 8 neuropsychiatric disorders and 6 cardiovascular diseases, an integrative analysis incorporating linkage-disequilibrium-score-regression (LDSC), Mendelian randomization (MR), functional mapping and annotation (FUMA), and functional enrichment analysis, was conducted to investigate shared genetic etiology of the brain-heart axis from the whole genome level, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) level, gene level, and biological pathway level. RESULTS In LDSC analysis, 18 pairwise traits between neuropsychiatric disorders and CVD were identified with significant genetic overlaps, revealing extensive genome-wide genetic correlations. In bidirectional MR analysis, 19 pairwise traits were identified with significant causal relationships. Genetic liabilities to neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and major depressive disorder, conferred extensive significant causal effects on the risk of CVD, while hypertension seemed to be a risk factor for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, with no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy. In FUMA analysis, 13 shared independent significant SNPs and 887 overlapping protein-coding genes were detected between neuropsychiatric disorders and CVD. With GO and KEEG functional enrichment analysis, biological pathways of the brain-heart axis were highly concentrated in neurotransmitter synaptic transmission, lipid metabolism, aldosterone synthesis and secretion, glutathione metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Extensive genetic correlations and genetic overlaps between neuropsychiatric disorders and CVD were identified in this study, which might provide some new insights into the brain-heart axis and the therapeutic targets in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifan Chen
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Rare Diseases in Infection and Immunity, Chongqing 400014, China.
| | - Xinyu Dong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China.
| | - Zhiwei Yu
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
| | - Yihan Zhang
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Rare Diseases in Infection and Immunity, Chongqing 400014, China.
| | - Yuan Shi
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Rare Diseases in Infection and Immunity, Chongqing 400014, China.
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Gharios C, van Leent MMT, Chang HL, Abohashem S, O’Connor D, Osborne MT, Tang CY, Kaufman AE, Robson PM, Ramachandran S, Calcagno C, Mani V, Trivieri MG, Seligowski AV, Dekel S, Mulder WJM, Murrough JW, Shin LM, Tawakol A, Fayad ZA. Cortico-limbic interactions and carotid atherosclerotic burden during chronic stress exposure. Eur Heart J 2024; 45:1753-1764. [PMID: 38753456 PMCID: PMC11107120 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chronic stress associates with cardiovascular disease, but mechanisms remain incompletely defined. Advanced imaging was used to identify stress-related neural imaging phenotypes associated with atherosclerosis. METHODS Twenty-seven individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 45 trauma-exposed controls without PTSD, and 22 healthy controls underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (18F-FDG PET/MRI). Atherosclerotic inflammation and burden were assessed using 18F-FDG PET (as maximal target-to-background ratio, TBR max) and MRI, respectively. Inflammation was assessed using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and leucopoietic imaging (18F-FDG PET uptake in spleen and bone marrow). Stress-associated neural network activity (SNA) was assessed on 18F-FDG PET as amygdala relative to ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) activity. MRI diffusion tensor imaging assessed the axonal integrity (AI) of the uncinate fasciculus (major white matter tract connecting vmPFC and amygdala). RESULTS Median age was 37 years old and 54% of participants were female. There were no significant differences in atherosclerotic inflammation between participants with PTSD and controls; adjusted mean difference in TBR max (95% confidence interval) of the aorta 0.020 (-0.098, 0.138), and of the carotids 0.014 (-0.091, 0.119). Participants with PTSD had higher hsCRP, spleen activity, and aorta atherosclerotic burden (normalized wall index). Participants with PTSD also had higher SNA and lower AI. Across the cohort, carotid atherosclerotic burden (standard deviation of wall thickness) associated positively with SNA and negatively with AI independent of Framingham risk score. CONCLUSIONS In this study of limited size, participants with PTSD did not have higher atherosclerotic inflammation than controls. Notably, impaired cortico-limbic interactions (higher amygdala relative to vmPFC activity or disruption of their intercommunication) associated with carotid atherosclerotic burden. Larger studies are needed to refine these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charbel Gharios
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 5E, Boston, MA 02114-2750, USA
| | - Mandy M T van Leent
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helena L Chang
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shady Abohashem
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 5E, Boston, MA 02114-2750, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 5E, Boston, MA 10029-6574, USA
| | - David O’Connor
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Michael T Osborne
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 5E, Boston, MA 02114-2750, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 5E, Boston, MA 10029-6574, USA
| | - Cheuk Y Tang
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Audrey E Kaufman
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Philip M Robson
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Sarayu Ramachandran
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Claudia Calcagno
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Venkatesh Mani
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Maria Giovanna Trivieri
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Antonia V Seligowski
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 5E, Boston, MA 02114-2750, USA
| | - Sharon Dekel
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Willem J M Mulder
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - James W Murrough
- Depression and Anxiety Center, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lisa M Shin
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Ahmed Tawakol
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 5E, Boston, MA 02114-2750, USA
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zahi A Fayad
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
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Yuksel C, Watford L, Muranaka M, McCoy E, Lax H, Mendelsohn AK, Oliver KI, Daffre C, Acosta A, Vidrin A, Martinez U, Lasko N, Orr S, Pace-Schott EF. REM disruption and REM Vagal Activity Predict Extinction Recall in Trauma-Exposed Individuals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.28.560007. [PMID: 37808660 PMCID: PMC10557699 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.28.560007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that rapid eye movement sleep (REM) supports the consolidation of extinction memory. REM is disrupted in PTSD, and REM abnormalities after traumatic events increase the risk of developing PTSD. Therefore, it was hypothesized that abnormal REM in trauma-exposed individuals may pave the way for PTSD by interfering with the processing of extinction memory. In addition, PTSD patients display reduced vagal activity. Vagal activity contributes to the strengthening of memories, including fear extinction memory, and recent studies show that the role of vagus in memory processing extends to memory consolidation during sleep. Therefore, it is plausible that reduced vagal activity during sleep in trauma-exposed individuals may be an additional mechanism that impairs extinction memory consolidation. However, to date, the contribution of sleep vagal activity to the consolidation of extinction memory or any emotional memory has not been investigated. To test these hypotheses, we examined the association of extinction memory with REM characteristics and REM vagal activity (indexed as heart rate variability) in a large sample of trauma-exposed individuals (n=113). Consistent with our hypotheses, REM disruption was associated with poorer physiological and explicit extinction memory. Furthermore, higher vagal activity during REM was associated with better explicit extinction memory, and physiological extinction memory in males. These findings support the notion that abnormal REM may contribute to PTSD by impairing the consolidation of extinction memory and indicate the potential utility of interventions that target REM sleep characteristics and REM vagal activity in fear-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cagri Yuksel
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | | | | | - Hannah Lax
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Augustus Kram Mendelsohn
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Katelyn I. Oliver
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Carolina Daffre
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Alexis Acosta
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Abegail Vidrin
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Uriel Martinez
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Natasha Lasko
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Scott Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
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Anger JT, Case LK, Baranowski AP, Berger A, Craft RM, Damitz LA, Gabriel R, Harrison T, Kaptein K, Lee S, Murphy AZ, Said E, Smith SA, Thomas DA, Valdés Hernández MDC, Trasvina V, Wesselmann U, Yaksh TL. Pain mechanisms in the transgender individual: a review. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2024; 5:1241015. [PMID: 38601924 PMCID: PMC11004280 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1241015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Specific Aim Provide an overview of the literature addressing major areas pertinent to pain in transgender persons and to identify areas of primary relevance for future research. Methods A team of scholars that have previously published on different areas of related research met periodically though zoom conferencing between April 2021 and February 2023 to discuss relevant literature with the goal of providing an overview on the incidence, phenotype, and mechanisms of pain in transgender patients. Review sections were written after gathering information from systematic literature searches of published or publicly available electronic literature to be compiled for publication as part of a topical series on gender and pain in the Frontiers in Pain Research. Results While transgender individuals represent a significant and increasingly visible component of the population, many researchers and clinicians are not well informed about the diversity in gender identity, physiology, hormonal status, and gender-affirming medical procedures utilized by transgender and other gender diverse patients. Transgender and cisgender people present with many of the same medical concerns, but research and treatment of these medical needs must reflect an appreciation of how differences in sex, gender, gender-affirming medical procedures, and minoritized status impact pain. Conclusions While significant advances have occurred in our appreciation of pain, the review indicates the need to support more targeted research on treatment and prevention of pain in transgender individuals. This is particularly relevant both for gender-affirming medical interventions and related medical care. Of particular importance is the need for large long-term follow-up studies to ascertain best practices for such procedures. A multi-disciplinary approach with personalized interventions is of particular importance to move forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer T. Anger
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Laura K. Case
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Andrew P. Baranowski
- Pelvic Pain Medicine and Neuromodulation, University College Hospital Foundation Trust, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ardin Berger
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Rebecca M. Craft
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Lyn Ann Damitz
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Rodney Gabriel
- Division of Regional Anesthesia, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Tracy Harrison
- Department of OB/GYN & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Kirsten Kaptein
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Sanghee Lee
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Anne Z. Murphy
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Engy Said
- Division of Regional Anesthesia, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Stacey Abigail Smith
- Division of Infection Disease, The Hope Clinic of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David A. Thomas
- Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Maria del C. Valdés Hernández
- Department of Neuroimaging Sciences, Center for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Victor Trasvina
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ursula Wesselmann
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine/Division of Pain Medicine, Neurology and Psychology, and Consortium for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Tony L. Yaksh
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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5
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Chen JJ, Jain J, Merker JB, Webber TK, Huffman JC, Seligowski AV. The impact of PTSD on associations between sex hormones and cardiovascular disease symptoms. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2320993. [PMID: 38445477 PMCID: PMC10919301 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2320993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Women have twice the lifetime prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relative to men, and PTSD is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Two sex hormones - estradiol and progesterone - have been found to impact both PTSD and CVD symptomatology, but the way in which sex hormones influence cardiovascular physiology among individuals with PTSD is not well understood.Objective: This study sought to clarify the association between sex hormones, PTSD, and CVD among trauma-exposed women.Method: Sixty-six trauma-exposed women (M age = 31.45, SD = 8.92) completed a clinical interview for PTSD and self-reported CVD symptoms; estradiol and progesterone were assayed from blood samples. The association between each sex hormone and CVD symptoms was analyzed, controlling for age, systolic blood pressure (BP), and diastolic BP.Results: Neither estradiol nor the PTSD-by-estradiol interaction was significantly associated with CVD symptoms. Higher progesterone and, relatedly, progesterone-to-estradiol ratio (PE ratio) were each significantly associated with greater CVD symptom severity, but only for individuals with lower relative PTSD severity.Conclusions: The findings indicate that PTSD moderates the relationship between progesterone and CVD symptoms, and further research is warranted to reconcile findings in existing literature regarding the direction of and mechanisms behind this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jahnvi Jain
- UT Health McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Julia B. Merker
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | | | - Jeffery C. Huffman
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia V. Seligowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Kalaria RN, Akinyemi RO, Paddick SM, Ihara M. Current perspectives on prevention of vascular cognitive impairment and promotion of vascular brain health. Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:25-44. [PMID: 37916306 PMCID: PMC10872925 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2273393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The true global burden of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is unknown. Reducing risk factors for stroke and cardiovascular disease would inevitably curtail VCI. AREAS COVERED The authors review current diagnosis, epidemiology, and risk factors for VCI. VCI increases in older age and by inheritance of known genetic traits. They emphasize modifiable risk factors identified by the 2020 Lancet Dementia Commission. The most profound risks for VCI also include lower education, cardiometabolic factors, and compromised cognitive reserve. Finally, they discuss pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. EXPERT OPINION By virtue of the high frequencies of stroke and cardiovascular disease the global prevalence of VCI is expectedly higher than prevalent neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia. Since ~ 90% of the global burden of stroke can be attributed to modifiable risk factors, a formidable opportunity arises to reduce the burden of not only stroke but VCI outcomes including progression from mild to the major in form of vascular dementia. Strict control of vascular risk factors and secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease via pharmacological interventions will impact on burden of VCI. Non-pharmacological measures by adopting healthy diets and encouraging physical and cognitive activities and urging multidomain approaches are important for prevention of VCI and preservation of vascular brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj N Kalaria
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rufus O Akinyemi
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Stella-Maria Paddick
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Masafumi Ihara
- Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Centre, Osaka, Japan
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7
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Fitzgerald JM, Huggins AA. Editorial: Perspectives on PTSD and its treatment. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1327251. [PMID: 38025381 PMCID: PMC10657985 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1327251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley A. Huggins
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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8
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Nesic M, Vogel J, Krüger JP, Wenzel W, Sahebi A, Rassaf T, Siebermair J, Wesemann U. Association between different dimensions of anger and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in at-risk cardiovascular patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1228192. [PMID: 37829760 PMCID: PMC10565353 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1228192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The common connecting factor between PTSD and cardiovascular diseases lies in the disruption of the stress processing system. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in stress levels worldwide. Due to the life-threatening situation of affected risk patients, this also led to the accumulation of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The influence of anger on cardiovascular diseases has hardly been investigated so far. The focus of this study is on anger regulation in cardiovascular risk patients. The COVID-19 pandemic is considered as an additional stressor in this study, but not as a separate entity. The hypothesis is that individuals with inward anger are more prone to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods As part of the routine examination, all patients who were hospitalized between January 1st, 2021 and May 31st, 2022 with high-risk cardiovascular diseases were included. A total of N = 153 (84.1%) subjects participated in the study. On admission, anger (STAXI-2) and PTSD (PCL-5) were assessed using questionnaires. The relationship between different domains of anger and PTSS was examined. Results Inwardly directed anger was more pronounced in this population than in a standard sample (+1 SD) and had a significant impact on the presence of PTSD (B = -0.72, p < 0.001). Additionally, correlations were found between inward-directed anger and PTSD, as well as all other anger expressions studied and the PTSD total score. Discussion It can be assumed that anger and its regulation are relevant factors for both cardiac diseases and PTSD. The study results can be used for prevention, rehabilitation and therapeutic measures. However, the impact of inner anger on PTSD is theoretical and based on statistical testing. A confirmatory longitudinal study is needed to substantiate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihailo Nesic
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Vogel
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisberg, Germany
| | | | - Werner Wenzel
- Department of Microbiology, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ali Sahebi
- Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Tienush Rassaf
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Siebermair
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisberg, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, Krankenhaus Göttlicher Heiland GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich Wesemann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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9
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Zhai X, Jiao R, Ni A, Wang X. Case report: Anxiety and depression as initial symptoms in a patient with acute hypoxia and patent foramen ovale. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1229995. [PMID: 37674554 PMCID: PMC10478089 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1229995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is 15-35% among adults. The role of right-to-left shunting through the PFO, anxiety, depression, and hypoxemia in the systemic circulation remains poorly understood. Herein, we present the case of a 52-year-old woman with no heart or lung disease, who was admitted due to anxiety for 5 months and had symptom exacerbation with dizziness for 4 days and presented with cyanosis. She was noted to have acute hypoxemia, with an oxygen saturation of 94.48% on room air, and arterial blood gas showed an oxygen tension of 65.64 mmHg. Agitated saline contrast echocardiography showed right-to-left shunting due to PFO. Arteriovenous fistula, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, congestion peripheral cyanosis, ischemic peripheral cyanosis, and methemoglobin were excluded. Additionally, the patient improved by taking Paroxetine, Oxazepam, and Olanzapine. Her oxygen tension returned to 90.42 mmHg, and her symptoms resolved. In the case of severe anxiety and depression, right-to-left shunting through the PFO may cause acute systemic hypoxemia via a flow-driven mechanism, occasionally manifesting as cyanosis. When anxiety improved, hypoxia also improved. Thus, the treatment of anxiety and depression seems effective in improving hypoxemia. Notably, this is a rare report, and we hope to draw the attention of psychosomatic specialists, psychiatrists, and clinicians to seek the relationship between anxiety appearing as acute stress and PFO. This may be a new therapeutic method for treating severe anxiety disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhai
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ronghong Jiao
- Department of Ultrasound, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Aihua Ni
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xueyi Wang
- Psychiatric Department of The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Institute of Mental Health of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Dabrowska J. From recent advances in underlying neurocircuitry of fear and anxiety to promising pharmacotherapies for PTSD: The saga of heart, sex and the developing brain. Neuropharmacology 2023; 232:109529. [PMID: 37004751 PMCID: PMC11017858 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Available pharmacotherapies for anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress-disorder (PTSD) have limited efficacy, but no new anxiolytic drug has been approved for treatment since the 1980s. In this issue of Neuropharmacology on "Fear, anxiety and PTSD: from cellular mechanisms to translational approaches", we review the currently recommended pharmacotherapy for PTSD and discuss promising pharmacotherapies being revisited or newly developed. Novel strategies for pharmaceuticals in PTSD treatment include the use of serotonergic psychedelics as low-dose adjunct therapies combined with psychotherapy. We also discuss the use of glucocorticoids targeting the temporal window shortly following trauma exposure to interfere with fear memory consolidation. Although many factors have impeded progress in pharmacotherapy development for anxiety disorders and PTSD, we highlight three: (1) the sparsity of preclinical studies investigating the neurobiology of fear processing in female animal models despite the higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in women, (2) the poor implementation of the knowledge of how stress affects fear circuitry development across the lifetime into clinical practice, and (3) our paucity of knowledge of canonical fear circuitry in adaptive vs. maladaptive fear processing. Finally, we emphasize the functional link between interoceptive signals and emotion regulation and discuss how these interoceptive signals may be an inroad into PTSD treatment, which is often accompanied by cardiovascular dysregulation. A better understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of adaptive and maladaptive fear processing is critical for identifying risk factors that will spur the development of sex- and developmental trauma-specific interventions, ushering in a new era of precision medicine for anxiety disorders and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Dabrowska
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL, USA.
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Valenza G. Depression as a cardiovascular disorder: central-autonomic network, brain-heart axis, and vagal perspectives of low mood. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 3:1125495. [PMID: 37260560 PMCID: PMC10228690 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2023.1125495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
If depressive symptoms are not caused by the physiological effects of a substance or other medical or neurological conditions, they are generally classified as mental disorders that target the central nervous system. However, recent evidence suggests that peripheral neural dynamics on cardiovascular control play a causal role in regulating and processing emotions. In this perspective, we explore the dynamics of the Central-Autonomic Network (CAN) and related brain-heart interplay (BHI), highlighting their psychophysiological correlates and clinical symptoms of depression. Thus, we suggest that depression may arise from dysregulated cardiac vagal and sympathovagal dynamics that lead to CAN and BHI dysfunctions. Therefore, treatments for depression should target the nervous system as a whole, with particular emphasis on regulating vagal and BHI dynamics.
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Princip M, Ledermann K, von Känel R. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder as a Consequence of Acute Cardiovascular Disease. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:455-465. [PMID: 37129760 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01870-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide an update of the current evidence of cardiac disease-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (CDI-PTSD) with a focus on acute coronary events. RECENT FINDINGS A cardiovascular disease, particularly a life-threatening cardiac event is often a highly stressful experience that can induce PTSD in patients and their caregivers, taking a chronic course if left untreated. There are several features distinguishing CDI-PTSD from "traditional" PTSD induced by external trauma, namely enduring somatic threat, inability to avoid trauma-related cues and hyperarousal with internal body sensations leading to constant fear of recurrent cardiac events. An increased risk of recurrent CVD events may be explained by pathophysiological changes, an unhealthy lifestyle and non-adherence to cardiac treatment. A trauma-focused approach might be useful to treat CDI-PTSD. Treatment options for patients and caregivers as well as long-term effects of trauma-focused interventions on physical and mental health outcomes should be future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Princip
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Katharina Ledermann
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Roland von Känel
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Sumner JA, Cleveland S, Chen T, Gradus JL. Psychological and biological mechanisms linking trauma with cardiovascular disease risk. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:25. [PMID: 36707505 PMCID: PMC9883529 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02330-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and experiences of psychological trauma have been associated with subsequent CVD onset. Identifying key pathways connecting trauma with CVD has the potential to inform more targeted screening and intervention efforts to offset elevated cardiovascular risk. In this narrative review, we summarize the evidence for key psychological and biological mechanisms linking experiences of trauma with CVD risk. Additionally, we describe various methodologies for measuring these mechanisms in an effort to inform future research related to potential pathways. With regard to mechanisms involving posttraumatic psychopathology, the vast majority of research on psychological distress after trauma and CVD has focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even though posttraumatic psychopathology can manifest in other ways as well. Substantial evidence suggests that PTSD predicts the onset of a range of cardiovascular outcomes in trauma-exposed men and women, yet more research is needed to better understand posttraumatic psychopathology more comprehensively and how it may relate to CVD. Further, dysregulation of numerous biological systems may occur after trauma and in the presence of posttraumatic psychopathology; these processes of immune system dysregulation and elevated inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, renin-angiotensin system dysregulation, and accelerated biological aging may all contribute to subsequent cardiovascular risk, although more research on these pathways in the context of traumatic stress is needed. Given that many of these mechanisms are closely intertwined, future research using a systems biology approach may prove fruitful for elucidating how processes unfold to contribute to CVD after trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Sumner
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Shiloh Cleveland
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tiffany Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jaimie L Gradus
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Cerebral Blood Flow in Predator Stress-Resilient and -Susceptible Rats and Mechanisms of Resilience. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314729. [PMID: 36499055 PMCID: PMC9738343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress-induced conditions are associated with impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF) and increased risk of dementia and stroke. However, these conditions do not develop in resilient humans and animals. Here the effects of predator stress (PS, cat urine scent, ten days) on CBF and mechanisms of CBF regulation were compared in PS-susceptible (PSs) and PS-resilient (PSr) rats. Fourteen days post-stress, the rats were segregated into PSs and PSr groups based on a behavior-related anxiety index (AI). CBF and its endothelium-dependent changes were measured in the parietal cortex by laser Doppler flowmetry. The major findings are: (1) PS susceptibility was associated with reduced basal CBF and endothelial dysfunction. In PSr rats, the basal CBF was higher, and endothelial dysfunction was attenuated. (2) CBF was inversely correlated with the AI of PS-exposed rats. (3) Endothelial dysfunction was associated with a decrease in eNOS mRNA in PSs rats compared to the PSr and control rats. (4) Brain dopamine was reduced in PSs rats and increased in PSr rats. (5) Plasma corticosterone of PSs was reduced compared to PSr and control rats. (6) A hypercoagulation state was present in PSs rats but not in PSr rats. Thus, potential stress resilience mechanisms that are protective for CBF were identified.
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Popovic D, Lavie C. Stress, cardiovascular diseases and exercise – A narrative review. HEART AND MIND 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/hm.hm_33_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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