Evidence mapPaperPMID 41367378Full record

ReviewFrontiers in cardiovascular medicine2025

The heart-brain axis: unraveling the interconnections between cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases.

Aili Toyli, Anjum Shaik, Chen Zhao, Qing-Hui Chen, Qiuying Sha, Weihua Zhou

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Aili ToyliDepartment of Mathematical Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States.
Anjum ShaikDepartment of Applied Computing, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States.
Chen ZhaoDepartment of Computer Science, Kennesaw State University, Marietta, GA, United States.
Qing-Hui ChenDepartment of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States.
Qiuying ShaDepartment of Mathematical Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States.
Weihua ZhouDepartment of Applied Computing, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and recent research has increasingly illuminated a complex, bidirectional relationship between the two. This review synthesizes epidemiological, mechanistic, imaging, and genetic evidence linking CVD and AD through the heart-brain axis-a network of interrelated physiological and demographic pathways. We detail how cerebral hypoperfusion, inflammation, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, and systemic amyloidosis contribute to shared neurodegenerative and cardiovascular outcomes. Multi-organ imaging studies, including MRI and PET, reveal that dysfunction of the cardiovascular system correlates with brain atrophy, white matter lesions, glymphatic impairment, and accumulation of AD-related proteinopathies. Genetic analyses further support overlapping risk architectures, particularly involving APOE and loci associated with lipid metabolism, vascular integrity, and inflammation. Age and sex are critical modifiers, with midlife CVD exerting the strongest influence on later cognitive decline, and sex-specific physiological responses shaping disease susceptibility. Finally, we explore how modifiable lifestyle factors, pharmacologic interventions, and precision medicine approaches targeting inflammatory and vascular pathways can jointly reduce the burden of both CVD and AD. Multidisciplinary collaboration to understand the interconnected biology of the heart and brain is essential for advancing integrated prevention and treatment strategies in aging populations.

Indexed as

Alzheimer's diseasecardiovascular diseasedementiaheart-brain axisimaging

Identifiers

PMID41367378
PMCPMC12682763

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.