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Increase
in Amygdala’s activity worsens the risk for cardiovascular events.
A study
by Tawakol et al published in Lancet
reports that individuals with increased activity in their amygdala are at
greater risk of heart disease and stroke.
Their study was conducted on 293 adults who were imaged with PET and
CT scans. The imaging studies recorded
increased activity in the brain, bone marrow, spleen and also inflammation in
the coronary arteries. Amygdala are nuclei located deep within the
temporal lobes of the brain. The
amygdala, which are part of the limbic system, have a primary role in functions
such as the processing of memory, decision making and emotions.
Amygdalar activity in 22 of the patients
was associated with a cardiovascular event during a mean follow up period of 3.7 years
(2.7-4.8). The
association between amygdalar activity and cardiovascular disease events seemed
to be mediated by increased bone-marrow activity and arterial inflammation.
The researchers concluded that emotional
stress is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The findings from their study provide an
understanding into the mechanism through which emotional stress can lead to
cardiovascular disease in human beings.
