How Brain-Body Communication Affects Organ Problems and Recovery After Stroke

Stroke is associated with both neurological deficits and significant visceral dysfunction.

• Post-stroke visceral dysfunction may arise from disrupted communication between the brain and peripheral organs.
• Four interconnected pathways are involved in this dysfunction: autonomic regulation, neuroimmune interactions, neurohumoral signaling, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
• Emerging interventions aim to restore visceral function by recalibrating brain-body signaling.
• Potential interventions include enhancing neural plasticity, vagus nerve stimulation, acupuncture, and microbiota-based modulation.
• A shift from managing organ-specific complications to a systems-level approach could improve rehabilitation outcomes.

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