Silent artery plaques may appear in one in 13 adults before age 30
Atherosclerosis, the process underlying most cardiovascular diseases, begins long before the first symptoms appear. An international study shows that the disease can already be detected in apparently healthy young adults and is much more common than previously thought.
Atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of most cardiovascular diseases, often begins undetected in apparently healthy young adults, according to a major international study. Conducted by researchers from Denmark and Spain, the REACT study found that more than half of over 16,000 participants, including those without any symptoms or prior cardiovascular diagnoses, had silent atherosclerotic plaques.
This prevalence rose significantly from approximately 1 in 13 individuals aged 18-29, to nearly 90% of those aged 60-70. The study, presented at ESC Congress 2026, utilized advanced imaging to detect plaques in carotid, femoral, and coronary arteries, generating the most comprehensive database on silent atherosclerosis to date. The findings suggest that portable ultrasound devices could become the standard for early atherosclerosis screening, moving away from traditional risk factor estimation methods.
The study also revealed sex-specific patterns, with men showing signs of atherosclerosis five to ten years earlier than women. These results emphasize the need for personalized, early intervention strategies to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
