The amygdala is a brain region involved in stress. Resting...
Nicholas Fabiano, MD@NTFabiano
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Apr 25, 2025
~1 min read
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The amygdala is a brain region involved in stress.
Resting metabolic activity of the amygdala significantly predicts the development of cardiovascular disease.
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Resting metabolic activity of the amygdala significantly predicts the development of cardiovascular disease.
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These findings are from a study in @TheLancet which aimed to determine whether resting metabolic activity of the amygdala predicted risk of subsequent cardiovascular events. thelancet.com/journals/lance… 2/10
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Stress prompts activation of both the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, leading to increases in circulating catecholamines, glucocorticoids, and (eventually) inflammatory cytokines. 3/10
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Although several factors could account for the risk of cardiovascular disease attributable to stress, the brain's salience network, an ensemble of interconnected structures involved in complex functions such as cognition and emotion, is thought to have an important role. 4/10
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Activation of this network, which includes the amygdala as a key component, leads to hormonal, autonomic, and behavioural changes typically associated with fear and stress. 5/10
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In animal models, stress increases proliferation of stem cells and progenitor cells in the bone marrow, accelerates innate immune cell output and cytokine production, and potentiates atherosclerosis. 6/10
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In this study, amygdalar activity was associated with perceived stress. 7/10
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While resting metabolic activity within the amygdala significantly predicted the development of cardiovascular disease independently of established cardiovascular risk factors. 8/10
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Specifically, it was demonstrated that amygdalar activity was associated with increased bone-marrow activity, leading to increased arterial inflammation, leading to cardiovascular disease events. 9/10
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Overall, these findings provide novel insights into the mechanism through which emotional stressors can lead to cardiovascular disease in human beings. 10/10
