Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) have created a new tool that can measure how old your heart really is. This “functional age” can tell if your heart is ageing faster than your body. The team used MRI scans from 557 people in the UK, Spain, and Singapore. Many of the participants had health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes. The tool showed that people with these problems had hearts that looked, on average, 4.6 years older than their real age. In some obese individuals, the gap was even wider.
What the Tool Does
The tool checks how well your heart works. It looks at things like the size of the heart chambers and how much blood the heart pumps. The data is then used to find out the heart’s “functional age.”
“People with diabetes or obesity often have hearts ageing faster than they should – sometimes by decades,” said Dr. Pankaj Garg, cardiologist and lead researcher.
This means a person who is 50 years old might have a heart that functions like that of a 60-year-old or older.
Why It Matters
Heart disease is one of the top causes of death around the world. Being able to catch early signs of heart problems can save lives. The study was published in the European Heart Journal.
“Knowing your heart’s true age could help people make better choices,” Dr. Garg said. “It could guide them to eat healthier, exercise more, and lower their risk.”
He added, “It’s about giving people a fighting chance against heart disease.”
Link Between Heart Age and Health Problems
The tool showed that heart ageing was faster in people who were obese or had chronic health problems. These people were more likely to have hearts that looked older than their age.
The average gap was 4.6 years, but some people had much larger gaps. For example, some obese individuals had hearts that appeared 10 years older.
Other studies have shown similar results. Research from the American Heart Association has linked obesity and diabetes to early heart ageing. These problems can damage blood vessels and weaken the heart over time.
Limitations and Next Steps
The tool is still in the early stages. The researchers say it’s not perfect yet. It doesn’t show how long a person has had a health problem. It also includes only those who lived to older age, which might make the data less accurate.
Also, the study only had 557 participants. This is a small group, so the tool needs to be tested on more people. Only then can doctors use it widely.
Still, the idea is promising. The researchers believe this tool could help doctors talk with patients about their heart health in a simple way.
How the Tool Could Help
Dr. Garg said the tool could be used during regular check-ups. If someone has a heart age that is older than their body age, they can be advised to change their habits.
“It’s like a wake-up call,” he said. “When people see that their heart is ageing faster, they might be more likely to take action.”
Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Eating more fruits and vegetables, walking daily, and reducing stress can all help slow heart ageing.
A Growing Need for Early Detection
Heart disease affects millions of people every year. In the UK, the NHS says that one in four deaths is due to heart and circulatory diseases. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 697,000 people die from heart disease each year.
Tools that show early warning signs could help change this. By acting early, people can avoid heart attacks, strokes, and other serious problems.
The Bigger Picture
This new tool is part of a larger trend in healthcare. Doctors are now looking for ways to prevent problems, not just treat them. Tools that use scans, data, and smart formulas are becoming more common.
Other researchers are also working on similar ideas. In 2022, scientists in Sweden developed a tool that could predict the risk of heart disease using just a smartphone camera and pulse data. In the U.S., some hospitals are testing AI tools that read heart scans faster than humans.
These new ideas could help more people stay healthy, longer.
The UEA’s new heart age tool is not yet ready for everyday use, but it shows real promise. It may help people see the real state of their heart and take steps to protect it.
As Dr. Garg said, “If you could know your heart’s true age, wouldn’t you want to do something about it?”