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GeroScience Dec 2022Aging of the cardiovascular regulatory function manifests as an imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal) components of the autonomic nervous system... (Review)
Review
Aging of the cardiovascular regulatory function manifests as an imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal) components of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The most characteristic change is sympathetic overdrive, which is manifested by an increase in the muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) burst frequency with age. Age-related changes that occur in vagal nerve activity is less clear. The resting tonic parasympathetic activity can be estimated noninvasively by measuring the increase in heart rate occurring in response to muscarinic cholinergic receptor blockade; animal study models have shown this to diminish with age. Humoral, cellular, and neural mechanisms work together to prevent non-resolving inflammation. This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying age-related alternations in the ANS and how an imbalance in the ANS, evaluated by MSNA and heart rate variability (HRV), potentially facilitates inflammation when the homeostatic mechanisms between reflex neural circuits and the immune system are compromised, particularly the dysfunction of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex. Physiologically, the efferent arm of this reflex acts via the [Formula: see text] 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, T cells, and endothelial cells to curb the release of inflammatory cytokines, in which inhibition of NF‑κB nuclear translocation and activation of a JAK/STAT-mediated signaling cascade in macrophages and other immune cells are implicated. This reflex is likely to become less adequate with advanced age. Consequently, a pro-inflammatory state induced by reduced vagus output with age is associated with endothelial dysfunction and may significantly contribute to the development and propagation of atherosclerosis, heart failure, and hypertension. The aim of this review is to summarize the relationship between ANS dysfunction, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction in the context of aging. Meanwhile, this review also attempts to describe the role of HRV measures as a predictor of the level of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in the aged population and explore the possible therapeutical effects of vagus nerve stimulation.
Topics: Animals; Endothelial Cells; Inflammation; Autonomic Nervous System; Sympathetic Nervous System; Immune System; Vascular Diseases
PubMed: 35773441
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00616-1 -
Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Autonomic Nervous System; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases
PubMed: 38868943
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.124.017028 -
Pediatric Research Mar 2021In premature infants, we investigated whether the duration of extrauterine development influenced autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation.
BACKGROUND
In premature infants, we investigated whether the duration of extrauterine development influenced autonomic nervous system (ANS) maturation.
METHODS
We performed a longitudinal cohort study of ANS maturation in preterm infants. Eligibility included birth gestational age (GA) < 37 weeks, NICU admission, and expected survival. The cohort was divided into three birth GA groups: Group 1 (≤29 weeks), Group 2 (30-33 weeks), and Group 3 (≥34 weeks). ECG data were recorded weekly and analyzed for sympathetic and parasympathetic tone using heart rate variability (HRV). Quantile regression modeled the slope of ANS maturation among the groups by postnatal age to term-equivalent age (TEA) (≥37 weeks).
RESULTS
One hundred infants, median (Q1-Q3) birth GA of 31.9 (28.7-33.9) weeks, were enrolled: Group 1 (n = 35); Group 2 (n = 40); and Group 3 (n = 25). Earlier birth GA was associated with lower sympathetic and parasympathetic tone. However, the rate of autonomic maturation was similar, and at TEA there was no difference in HRV metrics across the three groups. The majority of infants (91%) did not experience significant neonatal morbidities.
CONCLUSION
Premature infants with low prematurity-related systemic morbidity have maturational trajectories of ANS development that are comparable across a wide range of ex-utero durations regardless of birth GA.
IMPACT
Heart rate variability can evaluate the maturation of the autonomic nervous system. Metrics of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system show maturation in the premature extrauterine milieu. The autonomic nervous system in preterm infants shows comparable maturation across a wide range of birth gestational ages. Preterm newborns with low medical morbidity have maturation of their autonomic nervous system while in the NICU. Modern NICU advances appear to support autonomic development in the preterm infant.
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Electrocardiography; Female; Gestational Age; Heart Rate; Humans; Infant, Extremely Premature; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Intensive Care, Neonatal; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis
PubMed: 32396923
DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-0952-0 -
GeroScience Feb 2024Inflammaging refers to the age-related low grade, sterile, chronic, systemic, and long-lasting subclinical, proinflammatory status, currently recognized as the main risk... (Review)
Review
Inflammaging refers to the age-related low grade, sterile, chronic, systemic, and long-lasting subclinical, proinflammatory status, currently recognized as the main risk factor for development and progression of the most common age-related diseases (ARDs). Extensive investigations were focused on a plethora of proinflammatory stimuli that can fuel inflammaging, underestimating and partly neglecting important endogenous anti-inflammaging mechanisms that could play a crucial role in such age-related proinflammatory state. Studies on autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions during aging highlighted an imbalance toward an overactive sympathetic nervous system (SNS) tone, promoting proinflammatory conditions, and a diminished parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity, playing anti-inflammatory effects mediated by the so called cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). At the molecular level, CAP is characterized by signals communicated via the vagus nerve (with the possible involvement of the splenic nerves) through acetylcholine release to downregulate the inflammatory actions of macrophages, key players of inflammaging. Notably, decreased vagal function and increased burden of activated/senescent macrophages (macrophaging) probably precede the development of several age-related risk factors and diseases, while increased vagal function and reduced macrophaging could be associated with relevant reduction of risk profiles. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) is another pathway related to ANS promoting some anti-inflammatory response mainly through increased cortisol levels. In this perspective review, we highlighted that CAP and HPA, representing broadly "anti-inflammaging" mechanisms, have a reduced efficacy and lose effectiveness in aged people, a phenomenon that could contribute to fuel inflammaging. In this framework, strategies aimed to re-balance PNS/SNS activities could be explored to modulate systemic inflammaging especially at an early subclinical stage, thus increasing the chances to reach the extreme limit of human lifespan in healthy status.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Inflammation; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Aging; Autonomic Nervous System; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 37821752
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00947-7 -
Journal of Neuroscience Methods Dec 2020How rich functionality emerges from the rather invariant structural architecture of the peripheral autonomic nervous system remains one of the major mysteries in... (Review)
Review
How rich functionality emerges from the rather invariant structural architecture of the peripheral autonomic nervous system remains one of the major mysteries in neuroscience. The high incidence of patients with neural circuit-related autonomic nervous system diseases highlights the importance of fundamental research, among others with neurotracing methods, into autonomic neuron functionality. Due to the emergence of neurotropic virus-based tracing techniques in recent years the access to neuronal connectivity in the peripheral autonomic nervous system has greatly been improved. This review is devoted to the anatomical distribution of neural circuits in the periphery of the autonomous nervous system and to the interaction between the autonomic nervous system and vital peripheral organs or tissues. The experimental evidence available at present has greatly expanded our understanding of autonomic peripheral nervous system neurons.
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Humans; Interneurons; Neurons; Peripheral Nervous System; Viruses
PubMed: 32979424
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108958 -
Phlebology Dec 2022To highlight the relationship among compression therapy (CT), the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (parasympathetic and sympathetic system), and the heart rate variability... (Review)
Review
AIMS
To highlight the relationship among compression therapy (CT), the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (parasympathetic and sympathetic system), and the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.
BACKGROUND
Beyond the typical analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CT in patients affected by venous and/or lymphatic diseases, some literature about CT influence on wellbeing has been published as well. More specifically, CT influence on the ANS has been elucidated mostly through HRV application, providing useful quali-quantitative data for scientific and clinical purposes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A literature search was performed through several web-based search engines to investigate the available evidence concerning the possible influence of CT on the ANS and on psychoneuroendocrineimmunology. Moreover, we examined literature data regarding HRV use in the assessment of CT. Lastly, a preliminary cross-over study was performed on 10 patients affected by phlebolymphedema of the lower limbs, undergoing CT with 18-21 mmHg stockings for 10 h and investigated by means of HRV.
RESULTS
A CT-based increase of the anti-inflammatory activity of the parasympathetic (vagal) system has been elucidated in most scientific literature. Similarly, CT application has generally resulted in an improvement of HRV, which indicates a beneficial influence on the ANS. In our preliminary experience with compression stockings and HRV, two parasympathetic-based parameters improved by 22.8% and 68.0% after 10 h, whereas they decreased in the same subjects without stockings by 2.7% and 8.2%, during normal breathing. The remaining HRV parameters did not show relevant variations, especially during diaphragmatic breathing.
CONCLUSIONS
From literature data and based on our very preliminary experience, it is possible to deduce that CT exerts different effects on the psychobiological parameters of the individual, overall improving HRV and parasympathetic activity. Incorporating both HRV/ANS assessment in phlebolymphology and the beneficial neural action of CT in health care may represent viable options in the future biomedical science.
Topics: Humans; Heart Rate; Cross-Over Studies; Autonomic Nervous System
PubMed: 36343222
DOI: 10.1177/02683555221135321 -
Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics Mar 2021Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly diagnosed arrhythmia and eludes an efficacious cure despite an increasing prevalence and a significant association with... (Review)
Review
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly diagnosed arrhythmia and eludes an efficacious cure despite an increasing prevalence and a significant association with morbidity and mortality. In addition to an array of clinical sequelae, the origins and propagation of AF are multifactorial. In recent years, the contribution from the autonomic nervous system has been an area of particular interest. This review highlights the relevant physiology of autonomic and neurohormonal contributions to AF origin and maintenance, the current state of the literature on targeted therapies, and the path forward for clinical interventions.
Topics: Atrial Fibrillation; Autonomic Nervous System; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Heart Disease Risk Factors; Humans; Nervous System Diseases; Renin-Angiotensin System; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
PubMed: 33516396
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccep.2020.11.012 -
Clinical Autonomic Research : Official... Feb 2021
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Humans
PubMed: 33481122
DOI: 10.1007/s10286-021-00766-w -
Scientific Reports Dec 2022We propose a single-lead ECG-based heart rate variability (HRV) analysis algorithm to quantify autonomic nervous system activity during meditation. Respiratory sinus...
We propose a single-lead ECG-based heart rate variability (HRV) analysis algorithm to quantify autonomic nervous system activity during meditation. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) induced by breathing is a dominant component of HRV, but its frequency depends on an individual's breathing speed. To address this RSA issue, we designed a novel HRV tachogram decomposition algorithm and new HRV indices. The proposed method was validated by using a simulation, and applied to our experimental (mindfulness meditation) data and the WESAD open-source data. During meditation, our proposed HRV indices related to vagal and sympathetic tones were significantly increased (p < 0.000005) and decreased (p < 0.000005), respectively. These results were consistent with self-reports and experimental protocols, and identified parasympathetic activation and sympathetic inhibition during meditation. In conclusion, the proposed method successfully assessed autonomic nervous system activity during meditation when respiration influences disrupted classical HRV. The proposed method can be considered a reliable approach to quantify autonomic nervous system activity.
Topics: Humans; Meditation; Autonomic Nervous System; Vagus Nerve; Electrocardiography; Respiration; Arrhythmia, Sinus; Heart Rate
PubMed: 36581715
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27121-x -
Clinical Autonomic Research : Official... Apr 2020
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multiple Sclerosis; Prodromal Symptoms
PubMed: 32162038
DOI: 10.1007/s10286-020-00676-3