Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative Review

Background and objective: It is commonly known that there is a connection between heart disease and depression symptoms. Compared to heart failure patients without concurrent depression, those with depressive symptoms are more likely to have longer hospital stays and more outpatient visits following...

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Main Authors: Giacomo Deste, Carlo Lombardi, Roberto Gasparotti, Antonio Vita, Daniele Corbo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1283
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author Giacomo Deste
Carlo Lombardi
Roberto Gasparotti
Antonio Vita
Daniele Corbo
author_facet Giacomo Deste
Carlo Lombardi
Roberto Gasparotti
Antonio Vita
Daniele Corbo
author_sort Giacomo Deste
collection DOAJ
description Background and objective: It is commonly known that there is a connection between heart disease and depression symptoms. Compared to heart failure patients without concurrent depression, those with depressive symptoms are more likely to have longer hospital stays and more outpatient visits following discharge. Although the exact neurobiological mechanisms causing the correlation between heart disease and depression symptoms are unknown, it is thought that vascular abnormalities may be a major factor. The purpose of this review was to examine the connection between brain networks linked to depression and heart failure (HF). Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed. We included studies that reported both heart failure as well as depression and neuroimaging. Results: We identified 159 papers, but only 12 articles were included. Our findings show that reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) following HF, along with other contributing factors such as chronic inflammation and neurovascular dysfunction, can lead to significant brain tissue damage and disruption of neural networks. The resulting alteration in the brain increases the risk of developing depression, as the neural circuits responsible for emotional regulation become compromised. Conclusions: Individuals with heart failure (HF) exhibit reduced regional cerebral blood flow across multiple brain areas, many of which are critical for mood regulation and are commonly implicated in depression, such as the left frontal cortex and right hippocampus.
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spelling doaj-art-56f90f59e2d9407c9722cdbc6ea33da52025-08-20T02:00:24ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-12-011412128310.3390/brainsci14121283Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative ReviewGiacomo Deste0Carlo Lombardi1Roberto Gasparotti2Antonio Vita3Daniele Corbo4Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyInstitute of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyBackground and objective: It is commonly known that there is a connection between heart disease and depression symptoms. Compared to heart failure patients without concurrent depression, those with depressive symptoms are more likely to have longer hospital stays and more outpatient visits following discharge. Although the exact neurobiological mechanisms causing the correlation between heart disease and depression symptoms are unknown, it is thought that vascular abnormalities may be a major factor. The purpose of this review was to examine the connection between brain networks linked to depression and heart failure (HF). Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed. We included studies that reported both heart failure as well as depression and neuroimaging. Results: We identified 159 papers, but only 12 articles were included. Our findings show that reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) following HF, along with other contributing factors such as chronic inflammation and neurovascular dysfunction, can lead to significant brain tissue damage and disruption of neural networks. The resulting alteration in the brain increases the risk of developing depression, as the neural circuits responsible for emotional regulation become compromised. Conclusions: Individuals with heart failure (HF) exhibit reduced regional cerebral blood flow across multiple brain areas, many of which are critical for mood regulation and are commonly implicated in depression, such as the left frontal cortex and right hippocampus.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1283depressionneuroimagingMRIheart failurecognition
spellingShingle Giacomo Deste
Carlo Lombardi
Roberto Gasparotti
Antonio Vita
Daniele Corbo
Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative Review
Brain Sciences
depression
neuroimaging
MRI
heart failure
cognition
title Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative Review
title_full Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative Review
title_fullStr Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative Review
title_full_unstemmed Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative Review
title_short Neuroimaging Links Between Heart Failure and Depression—A Narrative Review
title_sort neuroimaging links between heart failure and depression a narrative review
topic depression
neuroimaging
MRI
heart failure
cognition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1283
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