Radionuclide Imaging of Heart-Brain Connections

Shady Abohashem; Simran S Grewal; Ahmed Tawakol; Michael T Osborne

doi:10.1016/j.hfc.2025.01.006

Radionuclide Imaging of Heart-Brain Connections

Heart Fail Clin. 2025 Jul;21(3):477-485. doi: 10.1016/j.hfc.2025.01.006.

Authors

Shady Abohashem¹, Simran S Grewal², Ahmed Tawakol², Michael T Osborne³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
² Massachusetts General Hospital, Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
³ Massachusetts General Hospital, Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: mosborne@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 40506159
DOI: 10.1016/j.hfc.2025.01.006

Abstract

The heart and brain have a complex interplay wherein disease or injury to either organ may adversely affect the other. The mechanisms underlying this connection remain incompletely characterized. However, nuclear molecular imaging is uniquely suited to investigate these pathways by facilitating the simultaneous assessment of both organs using targeted radiotracers. Research within this paradigm has demonstrated important roles for inflammation, autonomic nervous system and neurohormonal activity, metabolism, and perfusion in the heart-brain connection. Further mechanistic clarification may facilitate greater clinical awareness and the development of targeted therapies to alleviate the burden of disease in both organs.

Keywords: Heart-brain; Inflammation; Molecular imaging; Positron emission tomography; Psychosocial stress; Radionuclides.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autonomic Nervous System / diagnostic imaging
Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology
Brain* / diagnostic imaging
Brain* / physiopathology
Heart* / diagnostic imaging
Heart* / physiopathology
Humans