Restoring the connection between the heart and the right vagus nerve may prevent cardiac aging, according to a study led by experts at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy and published in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.
The research concludes that preserving bilateral cardiac vagal innervation-especially that of the right vagus nerve-acts as an anti-aging factor in the heart by directly protecting the health of cardiomyocytes, the cells responsible for cardiac contraction, independent of heart rate.
“The heart ages more rapidly when the integrity of the connection with the vagus nerve is lost,” explains Vincenzo Lionetti, professor and head of the study, who stresses the importance of this nerve pathway in the long-term preservation of cardiac function.
The protective role of the right vagus nerve
The study focuses on the right cardiac vagus nerve, which it identifies as a true biological protector of the heart. According to the researchers, even a partial restoration of this connection is sufficient to counteract the cardiac remodeling mechanisms associated with aging and maintain effective contractility of the heart muscle.
This finding reinforces the idea that the aging of the heart does not depend solely on mechanical or circulatory factors, but also on the integrity of its neurovegetative control.
A multidisciplinary approach between medicine and bioengineering
The study stands out for its markedly multidisciplinary approach, combining experimental medicine, cardiovascular research and bioengineering. The research has been led by the Translational Critical Care Unit (TrancriLab) of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health Sciences, together with the Institute of Biorobotics, both belonging to the Sant’Anna School.
The laboratory led by Prof. Silvestro Micera was instrumental in the development of an implantable bioabsorbable nerve conduit designed to promote and guide spontaneous regeneration of the thoracic vagus nerve at the cardiac level.
The contribution of bioengineering made it possible to demonstrate that controlled regeneration of this nerve pathway can have lasting functional effects on the heart.
New perspectives for cardiac surgery
The authors consider that these results open up new clinical perspectives, especially in the field of cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation. Restoring cardiac vagal innervation during surgery could become an innovative strategy for long-term cardiac protection.
“This approach could shift the clinical paradigm from treating late complications of premature cardiac aging to preventingthem,” concludes Professor Lionetti.
Although this is experimental research, the study reinforces the growing scientific interest in the heart-vagus nerve axis as one of the keys to preserving cardiovascular health over time.
