Atherosclerosis found in 1 in 13 adults under 30 in new study

An international study involving over 16,800 adults in Denmark and Spain has revealed that silent atherosclerosis—the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries—begins much earlier than previously understood. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine as part of the REACT study, the research found that approximately 1 in 13 adults aged 18 to 29 already exhibit detectable arterial plaque, despite having no known history of cardiovascular disease.

The prevalence of plaque increases significantly with age, affecting 57.1% of all participants. By age 60 to 70, nearly 90% of adults show signs of atherosclerosis. The study noted that men typically develop these plaques five to ten years earlier than women.

Dr. Borja Ibáñez of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) stated that while cardiovascular risk has traditionally been estimated using factors like blood pressure and cholesterol, this research allows for the direct detection of disease before it leads to a heart attack or stroke.

Other recent health studies highlight various physiological links to long-term wellness. Research indicates that early menopause is associated with faster cognitive decline and an earlier onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, studies suggest that high cardiorespiratory fitness in youth and maintaining a daily step count of at least 8,000 are linked to lower risks of depression and anxiety in later life. Furthermore, sexual objectification within the family environment has been linked to difficulties in sexual self-determination for women in adulthood.