Neurobiology of the circadian clock and its role in cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms, biomarkers, and chronotherapy

Jun 19, 2025Neurobiology of sleep and circadian rhythms

How the body’s internal clock affects heart health: underlying processes, signs, and time-based treatments

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Abstract

Circadian rhythms influence heart rate, blood pressure, and susceptibility to cardiac events.

Cardiovascular health is impacted by the regulation of gene expression in heart cells linked to circadian rhythms.
The autonomic nervous system's activity is modulated by these rhythms, affecting overall cardiovascular function.
Disruption of circadian rhythms in peripheral clocks of cardiovascular tissues may contribute to disease development.
Environmental and lifestyle factors can affect the circadian clock, with potential sex-specific variations observed.
Emerging concepts like exosome-mediated communication provide insights into the molecular interactions between the brain and heart.
Chronotherapy is highlighted as a potential strategy for disease prevention and treatment in cardiovascular medicine.

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Cardiovascular diseases are paramount cause of morbidity in aging population and aging disrupts normal circadian rhythm cycle. Circadian rhythms, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain, profoundly influence cardiovascular health through intricate neurobiological mechanisms. These rhythms regulate gene expression in cardiomyocytes, modulate autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, and synchronize cardiovascular functions with environmental cues, ultimately impacting heart rate, blood pressure, and susceptibility to cardiac events. The intricate relationship between circadian rhythms and cardiovascular health emphasizes the critical role of brain-heart communication in physiological processes. This review explores the neurobiology of circadian clock in cardiovascular disease, exploring how peripheral clocks in cardiovascular tissues influence organ physiology and how their disruption contributes to pathogenesis. The examination of neurobiological pathways linking circadian clock to cardiovascular disease, including ANS function, neuroendocrine signaling, and inflammatory responses, highlights the interplay between brain and heart. By probing environmental and lifestyle factors that modulate the circadian clock, as well as sex-specific variations in circadian rhythms, the review provides a comprehensive understanding of how these factors impact cardiovascular health. The discussion of emerging concepts, such as exosome-mediated intracellular communication in circadian physiology, offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying brain-heart interactions. Furthermore, the exploration of diagnostic potential and therapeutic strategies, particularly chronotherapy, emphasizes the importance of targeting the circadian clock for disease prevention and treatment in cardiovascular medicine. This comprehensive assessment not only advances our understanding about circadian clock's role in cardiovascular health but also paves the way for innovative approaches in theranostic, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

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Neurobiology of the circadian clock and its role in cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms, biomarkers, and chronotherapy

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