Unhealthy Lifestyles and Obesity Potentially Accelerate Heart Aging by 5 to 45 Years

Unhealthy Lifestyles and Obesity Potentially Accelerate Heart Aging by 5 to 45 Years

Evaluating heart health and catching issues early is crucial for finding effective interventions. A recent study has explored a method to calculate a person's heart's functional age compared to their biological age.

This research used a model based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and found that certain health conditions, such as obesity and atrial fibrillation (AFib), as well as an unhealthy lifestyle, can increase the functional age of the heart [1].

In the study, participants with obesity [4] and AFib had a higher functional heart age compared to healthy participants [2]. People with obesity, particularly those who are severely obese (Class III), can see an increase of up to 45 years in their heart age compared to their biological age [1][2][4].

AFib, a common heart rhythm disorder, also continuously affects heart age across all age groups [2]. Unhealthy lifestyles, in general, contribute to premature cardiovascular aging, resulting in a heart appearing older than its actual age. Chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, often linked with unhealthy lifestyles, also accelerate this process [3][4]. Cardiac MRI can measure changes in heart function and structure, showing how well the heart is aging. These changes can be influenced by lifestyle factors [3].

Researchers used a healthy reference population of 191 participants and compared them to a testing group of 366 participants who had at least one comorbidity, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity [3]. They also used another smaller group of 25 people for preliminary external validation. The study participants were from five different locations across three countries, allowing researchers to analyze various components of heart structure and function [3].

The findings were published in the European Heart Journal Open [3].

Using cardiac MRI to determine the functional age of the heart has potential as a preventive measure. "An assessment of a 'functional heart age' (either through imaging or other biomarkers) can potentially motivate patients to improve their lifestyles, identify patients at risk for future clinical events, and possibly even evaluate response to clinical therapeutics and interventions." This approach can help catch heart trouble early and prevent more severe problems [5].

Although this research is a promising step toward more effective cardiac health monitoring, it does have limitations. These include using estimations to determine the functional age of the heart, a higher risk for survivor bias, and not measuring how long participants had the measured comorbidities [3].

In conclusion, conditions like obesity, AFib, and unhealthy lifestyles can significantly increase the functional heart age. Tools like cardiac MRI can help monitor heart health, motivate lifestyle changes, and identify people at risk for future clinical events. Further research will help refine the model and determine its reliability and robustness for clinical application [5].

Enrichment Data:

• Overall: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to assess the effects of obesity, atrial fibrillation, and unhealthy lifestyles on a person's functional heart age. Here are the specific impacts of these factors:
  • Effects of Obesity
    • Increased Functional Heart Age: Obesity, particularly severe obesity (Class III), increases the functional heart age significantly, up to 45 years more than the biological age [1][2][4].
    • BMI and Heart Age: As BMI increases, especially into obese categories, the functional heart age rises [1][4].
  • Effects of Atrial Fibrillation
    • Accelerated Heart Aging: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is associated with a higher functional heart age across all decades of life [2].
    • Persistent Impact: AFib continuously affects heart age, not just in older age groups but across the lifespan [2].
  • Effects of Unhealthy Lifestyles
    • General Impact: Unhealthy lifestyles contribute to premature cardiovascular aging, causing the heart to appear older than its chronological age [1][3].
    • Chronic Conditions: Conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, often linked with unhealthy lifestyles, also accelerate heart aging [3][4].
    • Heart Function Changes: MRI can measure changes in heart function and structure, indicating how well the heart is aging, which can be influenced by lifestyle factors [3].

1. The effects of obesity, particularly severe obesity (Class III), can significantly increase the functional heart age, with estimations indicating an increase of up to 45 years compared to the biological age [1][2][4].
2. As body mass index (BMI) increases, especially into obese categories, the functional heart age tends to rise accordingly [1][4].
3. Atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm disorder, is associated with a higher functional heart age across all age groups, with a continuous impact throughout one's lifespan [2].
4. Unhealthy lifestyles contribute to premature cardiovascular aging, causing the heart to appear older than its actual age, with conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, often linked with unhealthy lifestyles, also accelerating this process [1][3].
5. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can measure changes in heart function and structure, revealing how well the heart is aging and showing potential areas for improvement, especially when influenced by lifestyle factors [3].
6. Researchers used estimations to determine the functional age of the heart, along with a healthy reference population of 191 participants and a testing group of 366 participants with at least one comorbidity [3].
7. The study participants were from five different locations across three countries, allowing researchers to analyze various components of heart structure and function [3].
8. Future research will help refine the model and determine its reliability and robustness for clinical application, ultimately paving the way for more effective cardiac health monitoring and intervention [5].
9. A recent study found that certain medical-conditions, such as obesity and AFib, as well as an unhealthy lifestyle, can increase the functional age of the heart, emphasizing the importance of healthy-and-wellness practices for seniors [1].
10. This approach to heart-health assessment using cardiac MRI can potentially motivate patients to improve their lifestyles, identify patients at risk for future clinical events, and evaluate response to clinical therapeutics and interventions [5].
11. MRI-based heart-age estimations can be crucial for maturing fields like science and medicine, playing a vital role in preventive medicine, weight-management, nutrition, mental-health, and chronic disease management, including the management of other heart diseases [6].

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