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.

Sex hormone levels linked to higher risk of heart disease in post-menopausal women

In post-menopausal women, having a higher blood level of a male hormone (testosterone) and a higher ratio of the male-type to-female type (estrogen) of hormones is associated with a higher risk of heart disease later in life, according to research published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

28 May 2018

Review finds high cardiovascular disease mortality rates among homeless populations

Among homeless individuals cardiovascular disease remains one of the major causes of death due to challenges in predicting initial risk, limited access to health care and difficulties in long-term management, according to a review published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

28 May 2018

South Asians living in the United States more likely to die of heart disease and stroke

South Asians are more likely to die of heart disease, such as heart attacks and strokes caused by atherosclerosis - the disease process that narrows arteries - than East Asians and non-Hispanic whites living in the United States, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association published in its journal Circulation.

24 May 2018

PSCK9 inhibitors may provide benefit to atherosclerosis patients with high lipoprotein(a) levels

Lipoprotein(a) is a variant of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and large amounts of data have shown that higher lipoprotein(a) levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

22 May 2018

Natural antioxidant bilirubin may provide cardiovascular benefits

Bilirubin, a yellow-orange pigment, is formed after the breakdown of red blood cells and is eliminated by the liver. It's not only a sign of a bruise, it may provide cardiovascular benefits, according to a large-scale epidemiology study.

18 May 2018

Increasing physical activity over six years associated with decreased heart failure risk

By analyzing reported physical activity levels over time in more than 11,000 American adults, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers conclude that increasing physical activity to recommended levels over as few as six years in middle age is associated with a significantly decreased risk of heart failure, a condition that affects an estimated 5 million to 6 million Americans.

15 May 2018

Research suggests novel therapies to lower cardiovascular disease risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Preclinical and early clinical research conducted by teams at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and in Australia suggests that patients with rheumatoid arthritis could lower their risk of cardiovascular disease through cholesterol-lowering therapies, according to research published in the European Heart Journal.

15 May 2018

Good bacteria is bad news for atherosclerosis

Researchers have discovered that the microbiome heavily influences hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

11 May 2018

Study shows cardiovascular problems are more common in uterine cancer survivors

A new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that survivors of uterine cancer are more likely to experience cardiovascular problems years after treatment.

8 May 2018

Researchers show novel relationship between gut microbiome and atherosclerosis

Researchers at Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute have shown a novel relationship between the intestinal microbiome and atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke.

3 May 2018

Chronic inflammation in middle age may increase risk of frailty decades later

A study of nearly 6,000 Americans followed for 24 years from middle to late adulthood found that having chronic inflammation in middle age may be linked to an increased risk of frailty and overall poorer health decades later.

26 Apr 2018

Cardiovascular disease may only be a matter of time for people with healthy obesity

People who are 30 pounds or more overweight may want to slim down a bit even if they don't have high blood pressure or any other heart disease risk, according to scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

24 Apr 2018

Researchers get one step closer to creating peptide vaccine against atherosclerosis

In the disease atherosclerosis, cholesterol-containing plaques form in vessel walls, causing arteries to narrow and greatly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

12 Apr 2018

Research team identifies new mutation behind heart failure in South Asians

An international research team involving Karolinska Institutet has identified a new mutation in South Asians that, in combination with a known mutation in the same gene, increases the risk of cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

12 Apr 2018

Researchers identify macrophage populations involved in development of atherosclerosis

Stroke and heart attack are the leading cause of death in the Western world. Würzburg scientists have used a special technique to get a clearer picture of the cells involved and their activity.

5 Apr 2018

Researchers find unexpected anti-inflammatory effects in PCSK9 inhibitors

PCSK9 inhibition is a new therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis which is known to lower LDL cholesterol.

5 Apr 2018

NEOMED professor awarded $2.5 million NIH grant for atherosclerosis research

Northeast Ohio Medical University researcher and professor of integrative medical sciences, Yanqiao Zhang, M.D., has received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, to study the role of hepatic transcription factors in lipid regulation, lipoprotein metabolism, and atherosclerosis, the most common form of cardiovascular disease.

4 Apr 2018

More vegetable intake linked to less carotid artery wall thickness among older women

Genetic testing could help guide blood-thinner treatment after stent placement

Using genetic testing to inform which blood thinner to use following a procedure to open narrowed blood vessels resulted in significantly fewer complications among patients, according to new research in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, an American Heart Association journal.

3 Apr 2018

Depression may be linked to increased risk of atrial fibrillation

A study has shown that depression may be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder that can cause clot formation and stroke.

23 Mar 2018