Brain-heart Connections in Spinocerebellar Ataxia: Role of Central

Abstract

More than a century ago, C. Bernard stated the connection between the brain and the heart. Here, we have emphasized on the central autonomic network (CAN) based on our previous pioneering work of structure-function connectivity in spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) patients. In order to study the correlation, SCA was the suitable disease model as being neurodegenerative disorder with fequent autonomic manifestations. The prefrontal cortex, bilateral middle temporal, left cuneus, left lingual and left caudate were the key brain areas of CAN for top down regulation of autonomic function assessed as heart rate variability and severity scoring. We have evaluated CAN to know parasympathetic and sympathic autonomic brain areas vis-a-vis parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic function in SCA which may shed light on putative pathophysiology.