Study finds artery plaque in 1 in 13 adults under 30 with no symptoms

Key Points:

• New research reveals that artery-clogging plaque, or silent atherosclerosis, can begin as early as ages 18 to 29, with about 1 in 13 adults in this age group showing signs despite no known cardiovascular disease.
• The international study, involving over 16,800 adults aged 18 to 70, found plaque in 57.1% of participants, increasing with age to nearly 90% in those aged 60 to 70, highlighting the silent progression of artery hardening.
• Men tend to develop plaque 5 to 10 years earlier than women, who experience the steepest increase between ages 40 and 60, and traditional cardiovascular risk scores may miss many cases of silent atherosclerosis.
• Experts emphasize that detecting plaque early offers an opportunity to manage risk factors before heart attacks or strokes occur, but widespread screening is not yet recommended without considering individual risk profiles.
• Maintaining heart health through lifestyle choices like avoiding tobacco, staying active, and eating a balanced diet remains crucial, as feeling healthy does not guarantee arteries are free of plaque.