Unhealthy habits and excessive weight could potentially accelerate a person's heart's aging by 5 to 45 years.
Heart health is a critical aspect that needs continuous monitoring to catch potential issues early and devise effective interventions. In a recent study, researchers aimed to evaluate the functional aging of people's hearts using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Unhealthy lifestyles, as well as conditions like obesity, atrial fibrillation (AFib), and high blood pressure can increase the heart's functional age. Obesity was found to significantly add years to the functional age of the heart, with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher leading to a functional heart age 45 years greater than the participant's chronological age. Similarly, participants with AFib had a higher functional heart age compared to healthy individuals.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal Open, utilized a model based on cardiac MRI. Researchers initially assessed a healthy reference population of 191 participants, compared to a testing population of 366 with at least one comorbidity, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. They also used another group of 25 participants as a "preliminary external validation" cohort.
By evaluating several components of heart structure and function, researchers developed a model to help determine participants' heart ages. Their final model considered factors such as the left atrial end-systolic volume and left atrial ejection fraction, which both evaluate the function of the left upper chamber of the heart.
When comparing healthy and unhealthy groups, researchers found distinctive heart differences. For example, the unhealthy group had a higher median ejection fraction, which involves how much blood the left ventricle pumps out during each contraction.
In summary, this study suggests that MRI-derived cardiac imaging can help determine the functional age of the heart and identify potential contributors of premature aging, such as obesity and AFib. By adopting healthy lifestyle habits and managing comorbidities, people can potentially slow down the aging process of their heart.
- Seniors with other heart diseases, such as obesity, atrial fibrillation, and high blood pressure, may experience accelerated heart aging.
- The study's findings indicate that obesity, as measured by a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, can cause a significant increase in the functional heart age of up to 45 years.
- Participants with atrial fibrillation were found to have a higher functional heart age compared to healthy individuals.
- The research employed a model based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess heart structure and function in both healthy and unhealthy groups.
- By evaluating components like the left atrial end-systolic volume and left atrial ejection fraction, the scientists created a model to estimate participants' heart ages.
- Researchers discovered crucial differences in heart structure and function between healthy and unhealthy groups, with the unhealthy group showing a higher median ejection fraction.
- This study underscores the potential for MRI-derived cardiac imaging to identify premature aging contributors like obesity and atrial fibrillation in the heart.
- Encouraging healthy lifestyle habits and managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes can help slow down the aging process of the heart.
- Promoting heart-and-wellness practices, such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and proper medical management of medical-conditions, is crucial for preserving cardiovascular health and longevity.
