Nearly 1 in 10 young adults could have fatty, narrow arteries
Atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty plaque in arteries, usually affects people older than 50, but a "meaningful" proportion of younger adults also have the condition
A recent study of nearly 17,000 adults, spanning Denmark and Spain, has found that nearly 1 in 10 younger adults may have plaque built up in their arteries due to a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, which involves fatty deposits narrowing blood vessels, can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. While it is more common in individuals over 50, the study reveals that a significant proportion of people in their 20s and 30s also have the condition.
Researchers found "silent" atherosclerosis in 57% of participants, with 63% of men and 51% of women affected. Among those in their 30s, 35% of men and 21% of women had atherosclerosis. Although risk factors such as higher cholesterol and blood pressure often predict plaque presence, they were not strong indicators in younger adults, suggesting that early detection could identify individuals who may benefit from preventive measures despite seeming at low risk.
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