Research indicates that plaque build-up in arteries may occur earlier than expected. A study has found that approximately 1 in 13 adults aged 18 to 29 exhibit silent atherosclerosis, a condition where arteries harden due to plaque formation despite the absence of known cardiovascular disease. Surprisingly, over half of all healthy adults in the study showed plaque evidence.
Researchers from Denmark and Spain utilized advanced imaging techniques to analyze more than 16,800 adults, ages 18 to 70, with no known cardiovascular disease. Their findings revealed plaque in 57.1% of participants. This prevalence rose with age, from approximately 1 in 13 adults under 30 to about 9 in 10 adults aged 60 to 70. This study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Atherosclerosis involves the accumulation of fatty deposits, cholesterol, and other substances within arteries, experts explain. This condition often progresses silently over many years and may lead to heart attacks or strokes later. The recent study highlights signs of silent artery plaque even in young, healthy adults.
Dr. Borja Ibáñez, a cardiologist and scientific director at Spain’s National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), commented, “For decades, cardiovascular risk assessments have relied on factors like age, blood pressure, and cholesterol. This study allows direct disease detection before any heart attack or stroke occurs.”
The research stems from the initial phase of the ongoing international REACT study, which aims to map silent artery plaque prevalence throughout adulthood. The study’s next phase will explore whether early detection can enhance heart disease prevention.
Until now, preventive decisions relied on risk estimates without knowing if the disease already existed. Professor Henning Bundgaard of Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen stated, “REACT demonstrates that atherosclerosis can be detected decades before clinical symptoms appear, providing a detailed atlas of its progression across adult life.”
The study also found that men develop plaque 5 to 10 years earlier than women, who experience a sharp increase between ages 40 and 60. Awareness of blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart health factors can mitigate cardiovascular disease risk.
Researchers discovered that standard cardiovascular risk scores fail to identify a considerable portion of individuals with silent atherosclerosis, suggesting traditional risk assessments might overlook certain cases.
While portable ultrasound technology could potentially assist in identifying hidden plaque earlier, additional clinical trials are necessary, according to researchers. Experts assert that these findings should prompt individuals to prioritize heart health early on, even in the absence of symptoms.
Dr. Sirisha Vadali, a cardiologist at HonorHealth Women’s Heart Health in Arizona, told Fox News Digital, “Detecting plaque doesn’t equate to an impending heart attack, but provides a chance to address risk factors. We must focus on heart health before symptoms arise.”
Vadali, not involved in the study, warns against assuming healthy feelings equate to plaque-free arteries. Although the study suggests early screening, she emphasizes it doesn’t guarantee prevention of heart attacks or strokes. Lifestyle choices, such as avoiding tobacco, regular exercise, and a well-balanced diet, are key to heart health.
She advises against routine artery screening for everyone under 30 but suggests decisions on further testing consider individual risk factors. A diet emphasizing vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, and fish while limiting saturated fat and sodium can support heart health.