Unhealthy living habits and excessive weight could potentially accelerate the heart's aging process by as much as 45 years.
The heart's health is a crucial aspect that needs close monitoring, and a new study suggests using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be the solution. This innovative approach evaluates the functional age of the heart in comparison to one's biological age, shedding light on the impact of unhealthy habits and certain health issues like obesity and atrial fibrillation (AFib) [1].
Researchers in this retrospective study aimed to measure the hearts' aging process, noticeable differences between healthy and unhealthy aging, and how modifiable risk factors like high blood pressure speed up the heart's aging process [2]. One potential tool to look at the heart's structure and function is cardiac MRI.
To do so, they examined three distinct groups-a healthy reference population, a testing population with comorbidities, and an external validation cohort. Participants were from various locations across three countries. The research team analyzed several components of heart structure and function, then developed a model to help determine the age of participants' hearts [2].
They found that healthy participants' heart ages lined up with their real age. On the other hand, unhealthy participants exhibited heart ages that were higher than their actual age. According to the cardiac MRI, participants' heart ages were almost five years older than their chronological age [2].
Interestingly, obesity seemed to increase the functional heart age. For instance, participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher had a functional heart age 45 years higher than their chronological age [2]. Additionally, participants with AFib also had a higher functional heart age than healthy participants. Other comorbidities like high blood pressure and diabetes also contributed to increased heart aging in certain age ranges [2].
"By comparing a patient's 'functioning heart age' with their 'chronological age,' clinicians can effectively communicate 'cardiovascular risk' to encourage lifestyle and therapeutic modifications," explained Patrick Kee, MD, PhD [2]. Monitoring the heart's functional age could prove to be a beneficial preventive tool, motivating individuals to improve their lifestyles, identify potential health risks, and even evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions [4].
This research serves as an exciting stepping stone towards more effective cardiac health monitoring, although it's not without limitations. For example, it may involve estimations and possible biases, as the study was not long-term and did not measure how long participants had their measured comorbidities [3]. Additionally, future studies could assess the impacts of exercise, diet, and other factors on the functional heart age [3]. Despite these limitations, this innovative approach offers promise for personalized, targeted heart health interventions.
[1] Overall:Cardiac MRI has been identified as a crucial tool in determining the functional age of the heart compared to its biological age. Recent studies have shown that unhealthy lifestyles and certain health conditions such as obesity, atrial fibrillation (AFib), diabetes, and hypertension can significantly increase the functional age of the heart (source: [1][2])
[2] Key Findings:1. Cardiac MRI as a Diagnostic Tool: MRI scans can reveal how old the heart functions compared to the person's chronological age. This method assesses heart parameters like chamber size and strength to estimate the functional age (source: [3][5])
- Impact of Unhealthy Lifestyles: Unhealthy lifestyles accelerate heart aging, contributing to a functional age that can be years ahead of the biological age (source: [1])
- Health Conditions and Heart Aging: Conditions such as obesity, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and hypertension lead to a higher functional heart age compared to individuals without these conditions (source: [2][3][5])
- Early Intervention: This MRI technique allows for early intervention and personalized advice on lifestyle changes or treatments to slow down heart aging and prevent heart diseases (source: [3][4][5])
In summary, cardiac MRI helps in understanding how chronic conditions and unhealthy lifestyles can prematurely age the heart, providing a valuable opportunity for early intervention and prevention strategies.
- This new study suggests that cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be a solution for closer monitoring of the heart's health, offering insights into its functional age compared to one's biological age.
- Researchers aim to measure the aging process of the heart, differentiate between healthy and unhealthy aging, and understand how factors like high blood pressure affect the heart's aging process.
- One tool for examining the heart's structure and function is cardiac MRI, which the research team uses to analyze various heart components and develop a heart-ageing model.
- Healthy participants' heart ages align with their real age, while unhealthy participants show a heart age higher than their actual age, as revealed by cardiac MRI.
- Obesity appears to increase the functional heart age, with participants having a BMI of 40 or higher displaying a functional heart age 45 years older than their chronological age.
- Participants with atrial fibrillation (AFib) also have a higher functional heart age than healthy participants, as do those with other comorbidities like high blood pressure and diabetes in certain age ranges.
- Comparing a patient's 'functioning heart age' with their 'chronological age' allows clinicians to communicate 'cardiovascular risk,' motivating individuals to make lifestyle and therapeutic modifications.
- Monitoring the heart's functional age could be a beneficial preventive tool, encouraging individuals to improve their lifestyles, identify potential health risks, and evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions.
- This research represents an exciting stepping stone in cardiac health monitoring, offering promise for personalized, targeted interventions aimed at heart health, fitness, and chronic diseases, and the advancement of health-and-wellness science.
