Study Finds Early Signs of Atherosclerosis in Young Adults

<p>A buildup of artery-clogging plaque may begin earlier than previously thought, according to new research. About 1 in 13 adults ages 18 to 29 exhibited silent atherosclerosis—the hardening of arteries due to plaque—despite having no known cardiovascular disease. More than half of all healthy adults in the study showed signs of plaque in their arteries, as reported in a major international study.</p><p>Researchers from Denmark and Spain examined over 16,800 adults aged 18 to 70 with no known cardiovascular disease using advanced imaging techniques. They found plaque in 57.1% of participants, with prevalence increasing steadily with age, from about 1 in 13 adults under 30 to approximately 9 in 10 adults aged 60 to 70. The findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in August.</p><p>Atherosclerosis occurs when fatty deposits, cholesterol, and other substances accumulate in arteries, often developing silently over many years before leading to a heart attack or stroke. Dr. Borja Ibáñez, a cardiologist and scientific director of Spain's National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), stated, "For decades, we have estimated cardiovascular risk using factors such as age, blood pressure, and cholesterol. This study shows that we can now go one step further and detect the disease directly before it causes a heart attack or stroke."</p><p>The findings are part of the first phase of the ongoing international REACT study, which aims to map the prevalence of silent artery plaque across adulthood. In the next phase, researchers will investigate whether earlier detection can improve heart disease prevention.</p><p>Professor Henning Bundgaard, a cardiology professor at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, noted, "Until now, preventive decisions have been based on an estimate of risk, but we did not know whether the disease was already present. REACT shows that atherosclerosis can be detected decades before clinical manifestations appear and provides the most comprehensive atlas of the evolution of the disease across adult life."</p><p>The study also found that men tend to develop plaque five to ten years earlier than women, while women experience a significant increase in plaque between ages 40 and 60. Researchers indicated that commonly used cardiovascular risk scores only identified a small proportion of individuals with silent atherosclerosis, suggesting that some cases may go undetected using traditional risk assessments.</p><p>While researchers believe that portable ultrasound could eventually help identify hidden plaque earlier, further clinical trials are necessary. They emphasized that the findings should encourage individuals to take heart health seriously, but not to panic. Dr. Sirisha Vadali, a cardiologist at HonorHealth Women’s Heart Health in Arizona, stated, "Finding plaque doesn't mean someone is about to have a heart attack, but finding it gives us an opportunity to address a patient's risk factors. We shouldn't wait for symptoms to start paying attention to heart health."</p><p>Vadali, who was not involved in the research, added, "Feeling healthy doesn't necessarily mean your arteries are free of plaque." She cautioned that the study does not establish that screening everyone will directly prevent heart attacks or strokes, and decisions about additional testing should be based on individual risk factors. She recommended avoiding tobacco, staying physically active, and consuming a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, and fish while limiting saturated fat and excess sodium to help protect heart health.</p><p>Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.</p>