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.

Heart disease markers may predict future cancer risk

Cancer and heart disease, two leading causes of death worldwide, may be more connected than we previously thought, according to a new UCLA Health study revealing that certain cardiac blood markers can strongly predict future cancer risk-even in people with no history or symptoms of heart disease.

18 Jun 2025

New therapeutic approach targets PCSK9 to regulate blood cholesterol levels

When the amount of cholesterol in the blood is too high, hypercholesterolemia can develop, causing serious damage to the arteries and cardiovascular health.

11 Jun 2025

Is that evening glass of wine really good for your heart?

A comprehensive AHA review finds overwhelming evidence that heavy alcohol use increases cardiovascular disease risk, while the benefits of low-to-moderate drinking remain unproven and uncertain. The authors recommend prioritizing proven heart-healthy habits over alcohol for cardiovascular protection.

10 Jun 2025

Transcendental Meditation may offer lasting benefits for heart health in high-risk Black adults

A newly published randomized controlled trial in Frontiers in Medicine has found that the practice of Transcendental Meditation® (TM) may significantly reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in Black men and women at high risk for heart disease.

5 Jun 2025

Statins show no additional benefit for depression treatment

Lipid-lowering medicines, known as statins, are prescribed in cases of high cholesterol levels, to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

4 Jun 2025

Carotid plaques may quietly become more dangerous over time

Using data from the Rotterdam Study in the Netherlands, researchers have uncovered that carotid artery plaques can undergo potentially dangerous changes over time in patients without symptoms, according to a study was published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

3 Jun 2025

Review shows how extra virgin olive oil transforms heart health

Regular consumption of extra virgin olive oil is linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk, improving heart health through its rich polyphenol content.

2 Jun 2025

Research uncovers new links between blood lipid profiles and risk of developing Alzheimer's

People who are at higher risk for heart disease also seem more likely to develop dementia.

30 May 2025

Coronary inflammation marker helps identify hidden heart risk in young adults

Researchers found that peri-coronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCAT), a marker of coronary inflammation, is independently associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults. Adding PCAT to standard risk models improved detection of early atherosclerosis, even in patients with a zero calcium score.

28 May 2025

Immune microRNAs drive new frontiers in cardiovascular disease research

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to dominate global mortality statistics, with immune dysregulation emerging as a central feature in their pathogenesis.

28 May 2025

Exploring how type 2 inflammation influences heart health and asthma

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Asthma and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are intricately linked, because of their widespread prevalence and shared pathophysiological processes.

28 May 2025

Blocking IL1RAP protein may offer new approach to treat atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fat and calcium in the walls of blood vessels and represents the most common cause of cardiovascular disease.

21 May 2025

Residual inflammation can linger in psoriasis patients despite skin treatment

New research shows that in patients with psoriasis, even though their skin responds well to treatment with biologics, inflammation can linger, leading to broader health implications such as obesity and cardiovascular and fatty liver disease.

20 May 2025

Air pollution fuels artery damage and accelerates heart disease, review finds

Researchers reviewed how air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), drives the development and worsening of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Their findings highlight robust links between air pollution exposure, early artery changes, and underlying biological mechanisms fueling cardiovascular risk.

19 May 2025

Comprehensive treatment approach helps patients manage rheumatoid arthritis

Although rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with no cure, a tailored, multidisciplinary treatment approach at Cedars-Sinai's Inflammatory Arthritis Clinical Center helps patients get back to the activities they enjoy.

7 May 2025

Phthalates in plastics linked to over 350,000 heart deaths worldwide

A global modeling study in eBioMedicine links phthalate exposure from plastics, especially DEHP metabolites, to over 356,000 cardiovascular deaths in 2018. Exposure was highest in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, disproportionately affecting lower-income countries.

4 May 2025

NAD+ restoration improves mitochondrial function in Werner syndrome cells

A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) on April 2, 2025, as the cover of Volume 17, Issue 4, titled "Decreased mitochondrial NAD+ in WRN deficient cells links to dysfunctional proliferation."

2 May 2025

Exploring the relationship between mitochondrial quality control mechanisms and atherosclerosis

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) mechanisms - including biogenesis, dynamics, mitophagy, proteostasis, the unfolded protein response, and mitochondrial-derived vesicles - play critical roles in the development of atherosclerosis.

1 May 2025

Researchers tie childhood vitamin D shortfalls to adult heart disease

Low childhood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were linked to a significantly higher risk of early adult-onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The association remained even after accounting for conventional childhood risk factors and persisted across multiple analyses.

30 Apr 2025

New protein target offers hope for treating high blood pressure and aortic aneurysms

Oxidative stress can occur when our cells are exposed to harmful molecules called "reactive oxygen species" over time. These reactive oxygen species can damage cells and are found in important disease states, such as high blood pressure and aortic aneurysms.

30 Apr 2025