The secret to a healthier, younger heart lies in…

Restore the connection between the heart and the right vagus nerve can prevent cardiac aging, according to experts at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Italy), according to published in Science Translational Medicine.

The secret to a Healthier and younger heart resides in the vagus nerveaccording to this new study, which concludes that preserving bilateral cardiac vagal innervation is an anti-aging factor.

In particular, the right cardiac vagus nerve becomes a true protector of cardiomyocyte healthhelping to preserve the longevity of the heart regardless of heart rate.

The study is characterized by a markedly multidisciplinary approach, which integrates the experimental medicine and bioengineering applied to cardiovascular research.

Specifically, the research was led by the Translational Critical Care Unit (TrancriLab) of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health Sciences, under the responsibility of Professor Vincenzo Lionetti, and by the laboratory of the Biorobotics Institute, directed by Professor Silvestro Micera, who contributed to the development of bioabsorbable nerve conduit used to facilitate vagal regeneration. “When the integrity of the connection with the vagus nerve is lost, the heart ages more quickly,” explains Professor Lionetti.

Even a partial restoration of the connection between the right vagus nerve and the heart is enough to counteract remodeling mechanisms and preserve effective cardiac contractilitynotes the work. Furthermore, the contribution of bioengineering was decisive.

The researchers developed a implantable bioabsorbable nerve conduitdesigned to promote and guide the spontaneous regeneration of the thoracic vagus nerve at the cardiac level.

“Taken together, these results open new perspectives for cardiothoracic and transplant surgery, suggesting that restoring cardiac vagal innervation at the time of surgery may represent an innovative strategy for long-term heart protectionchanging the clinical paradigm from the management of late complications associated with premature cardiac aging to their prevention,” concludes Professor Lionetti.