Atherosclerosis News and Research

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Atherosclerosis is the progressive buildup of plaque - the fatty deposits and other cells - in the inner walls of the arteries. The condition is a consequence of elevated cholesterol and for many it's a silent disease, with no visible signs or symptoms. The disease can begin in early adulthood and continues to progress for the rest of a person's life. Despite the serious nature of atherosclerosis, many people do not understand how it develops and progresses.

Mutation in newly discovered small protein linked to increase in Alzheimer's disease risk

A mutation in a newly discovered small protein is connected to a significant increase in the risk for Alzheimer's disease, expanding the known gene targets for the disease and presenting a new potential avenue for treatment, according to a new USC study.

21 Sep 2022

Common genetic variants of APOE associated with COVID mortality

It may be the most baffling quirk of COVID: What manifests as minor, flu-like symptoms in some individuals spirals into severe disease, disability, and even death in others.

21 Sep 2022

Researchers identify a genetic defect in alveolar macrophages that causes lung disease

New discovery on the causes of PAP lung disease can also offer solutions for treating obesity and heart disease. The research group of Associate Professor Alexander Mildner at the University of Turku, Finland, identified a genetic defect that causes the accumulation of lipids in the pulmonary alveoli.

19 Sep 2022

Study supports the importance of healthy diet for better cognitive function across races, ethnicities

Dietary choices and their consequences may certainly influence cognitive function. A new study led by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, along with outside collaborators expands on previously published work (focused on Puerto Rican individuals in the U.S.) by including additional races and ethnicities.

16 Sep 2022

Research reveals pivotal role of C/EBPb in the development of alveolar macrophages

If a secretion in the lungs’ alveoli is not cleared regularly, breathing difficulties can develop. In a study published in Science Immunology, a team led by Alexander Mildner and Achim Leutz has now explained the pivotal role of the transcription factor C/EBPb in this process.

16 Sep 2022

Scientists estimate the impact of genetic risk factors on the loss of healthy life years

Researchers have, for the first time, systematically estimated the impact of a range of different disease-associated genetic risk factors on the loss of healthy life years. Knowing the contribution of different genetic risk factors on disease burden can help prioritise and design interventions using genetic information.

12 Sep 2022

Pollutant particles in the air trigger lung cancer in non-smokers

A new mechanism has been identified through which very small pollutant particles in the air may trigger lung cancer in people who have never smoked, paving the way to new prevention approaches and development of therapies, according to late-breaking data [to be] reported at the ESMO Congress 2022 by scientists of the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, funded by Cancer Research UK. The particles, which are typically found in vehicle exhaust and smoke from fossil fuels, are associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk, accounting for over 250,000 lung cancer deaths globally per year.

12 Sep 2022

The effects of taurine supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress in women aged 55 to 70

Researchers investigated the effects of supplementing taurine on the biomarkers of oxidative stress in females.

8 Sep 2022

Recent literature reports on the role of the gut microbiome on human health and its effect on diseases

Researchers assessed the role of the gut microbiome in human health and disease.

8 Sep 2022

Study helps reveal the molecular secrets of macular degeneration

Research led by Sanford Burnham Prebys professor Francesca Marassi, Ph.D., is helping to reveal the molecular secrets of macular degeneration, which causes almost 90% of all age-related vision loss.

7 Sep 2022

What is currently known about the mechanism and treatments of long COVID?

The current understanding of the mechanisms underlying long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID and potential treatment methods that show promise in long COVID management.

6 Sep 2022

Researchers report large molecular compounds and nanoscale nanozyme of two traditional Chinese medicines may inhibit COVID-19 signaling

Researchers investigated the potential anti-COVID-19 activity of traditional Chinese medicine.

25 Aug 2022

Research shows a correlation between air pollution and heart attacks in non-smokers

Research presented at ESC Congress 2022 supports a causal relationship between air pollution and heart attacks since smokers, who already inhale smoke, were unaffected by dirty air.

23 Aug 2022

Novel non-invasive detection technique detects carotid artery stenosis

Motion analysis of video recorded on a smartphone accurately detected narrowed arteries in the neck, which are a risk factor for stroke, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

17 Aug 2022

Study identifies the link between a gene variant and protection against coronary atherosclerosis

The protective effect of the newly discovered variant against coronary heart disease is likely to be caused by the below-average arterial stiffness of variant carriers.

17 Aug 2022

Gene discovery could help develop new tools to prevent strokes and heart attacks

Heart attacks and strokes are a leading cause of death in the United States, but scientists are still working to understand one of their primary triggers.

11 Aug 2022

Researchers identify genes that become active when carotid plaque rupture leads to a stroke

Researchers at Ochsner Health and Tulane University School of Medicine have identified the genes that become active in carotid arteries when plaque rupture causes a stroke.

11 Aug 2022

Abnormal size or functioning in the heart's left atrium may increase dementia risk

Structural or functional abnormalities within the heart's left atrium, with or without symptoms, may increase a person's risk of developing dementia later in life by 35%, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

10 Aug 2022

Vascular dysfunction may be the cause of metabolic changes that can lead to diabetes, study suggests

A major risk factor for diabetes, insulin resistance occurs when the cells of the body do not respond to insulin and cannot make use of the glucose (sugar) in the blood stream.

5 Aug 2022

Mitochondrial DNA mutations are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis

Mitochondria are organelles found within most cells, best known for generating the chemical energy required to power cellular functions.

4 Aug 2022