Arterial Stiffness News and Research

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Arteries stiffen as a consequence of age and atherosclerosis. The two leading causes of death in the developed world, myocardial infarction and stroke, are both a direct consequence of atherosclerosis. Increased arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Heated tobacco users had more hypertension, but the story is not that simple

A large Japanese real-world cohort study found that current heated tobacco product users had a higher risk of developing hypertension than never-smokers in the primary adjusted analysis. However, the association weakened in several sensitivity analyses, and the observational study could not separate the effects of current heated tobacco use from previous cigarette exposure.

27 Sep 2026

Why frailty and heart health may be more closely connected than we thought

A narrative review proposes cardiovascular frailty as a distinct phenotype that brings together blood pressure regulation, vascular aging, oxi-inflammaging, and clinical frailty deficits. The authors argue that a validated cardiovascular frailty index could support earlier detection and personalized care, although longitudinal studies are needed before the concept can be used clinically.

15 Sep 2026

Machine learning model can identify likely non-responders to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation

Exercise training is a cornerstone of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and current guidelines rate it as a top-tier recommendation for reducing the risk of future cardiovascular events.

21 Aug 2026

Scintica and Indus Instruments introduce PulSAR MD: An integrated M-Mode and Doppler data acquisition system with powerful automatic analysis

Scintica and Indus Instruments are proud to introduce PULSAR MD (Preclinical Ultrasound for Small Animal Research M-Mode and Doppler) system, the next evolution in preclinical hemodynamic assessment.

From Scintica Instrumentation Inc. 20 Aug 2026

Review finds blueberry and grape polyphenols may improve vascular health

A review of 37 publications found that grape- and blueberry-derived polyphenols were associated with modest improvements in cardiovascular risk markers, particularly endothelial function. However, most studies were small or short-term, frequently tested concentrated products, and measured biomarkers rather than cardiovascular events.

27 Jul 2026

Could IVF affect heart health after pregnancy?

Women with IVF-conceived pregnancies exhibit higher large artery stiffness, indicating potential cardiovascular risks that warrant further investigation.

7 Jul 2026

New biological age tools could reveal health risks before symptoms appear

A JCI review traces biological age measurement from functional tests and blood biomarkers to epigenetic, proteomic, imaging, wearable, and AI-based clocks. It finds that these tools can improve risk prediction beyond chronological age, but standardization, interpretability, and prospective validation are needed before routine clinical use.

18 Jun 2026

Combined workouts and HIIT significantly lower daily blood pressure

Aerobic and resistance training combined, and high intensity interval training (HIIT), are associated with significant reductions in blood pressure over 24 hours, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence for several different types of structured exercise, and published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

13 May 2026

Cognitive decline may signal heart trouble years before a cardiovascular event

In a large ASPREE and ASPREE-XT nested case-control study of older adults without prior cardiovascular disease, people who later experienced a CVD event showed faster cognitive decline beginning roughly 3 to 8 years before the event. Processing speed declined earliest, suggesting that subtle cognitive changes may emerge well before overt cardiovascular disease.

21 Apr 2026

Blood pressure readings may help identify future dementia risk

Measures of blood vessel health derived from routine blood pressure readings may help identify adults at increased risk for dementia, according to research being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

17 Mar 2026

Do cocoa flavanols influence heart and fatty liver risk factors?

A recent Nutrients review examined whether cocoa-rich dark chocolate influences cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease risk factors through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and endothelial effects. Evidence suggests modest improvements in biomarkers, but most data come from short-term studies, so definitive clinical benefits remain unproven.

16 Feb 2026

Metformin fails to improve insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes

Metformin treatment in type 1 diabetes lowers insulin dosage but does not improve insulin resistance, highlighting its complex role in diabetes management.

26 Nov 2025

Dash diet cuts diabetes complications by targeting blood pressure kidney health and inflammation

The DASH diet supports metabolic health in people with diabetes by improving blood pressure, renal function, lipids, and modest glycemic markers while reducing risks linked to vascular and inflammatory pathways. Its broad nutrient-driven mechanisms also benefit related conditions such as neuropathy, PCOS, and retinopathy, making it a versatile tool for cardiometabolic care.

16 Nov 2025

Study links short-term blood pressure variability to Alzheimer's-related brain loss

Even when blood pressure is well controlled, older adults whose blood pressure fluctuates widely from one heartbeat to the next may be at greater risk for brain shrinkage and nerve cell injury, according to a new study led by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

30 Oct 2025

Does eating watermelon lower blood pressure?

Researchers reviewed the role of watermelon as a natural source of L-citrulline and its potential to improve cardiovascular health by enhancing nitric oxide production. While promising effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness were seen in at-risk groups, long-term and dose-specific studies are still needed to confirm clinical benefits.

15 Oct 2025

Exercise beats yoga for improving heart and blood vessel health

Researchers compare the effects of physical exercise and yoga on cardiovascular function.

7 Oct 2025

Intensive sports in adolescents trigger complex heart adaptations

Adolescent athletes' cardiovascular system may adapt to increased cardiorespiratory fitness by increasing blood pressure, arterial stiffness and heart growth, a new study shows.

2 Oct 2025

Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older adults by reshaping oral bacteria

Dietary nitrate from beetroot juice lowered blood pressure in older adults but not in younger participants in a double-blind crossover trial. The effect was linked to oral microbiome changes, including reduced Prevotella and higher plasma nitrite, without improvements in endothelial function

2 Sep 2025

COVID-19 accelerates vascular aging in women

Research shows COVID-19 accelerates vascular aging, especially in women, with implications for long-term cardiovascular health and recovery strategies.

20 Aug 2025

COVID-19 ages arteries prematurely with women most affected

COVID-19 may leave arteries biologically “older,” with women showing more persistent stiffness and symptom links than men. Findings from the large CARTESIAN cohort suggest this vascular aging effect is partly reversible over time.

19 Aug 2025