🩺 Scientists Develop MRI Technique to Reveal the Heart's “Functional Age”

Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK have developed an innovative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that determines the "functional age" of the heart, offering a new tool for the early detection of cardiovascular diseases.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal Open, analyzed MRIs from 557 individuals, including both healthy participants and patients with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Researchers assessed key parameters of the heart—such as chamber size and strength—to calculate its functional age. The findings showed that in people with risk factors, the heart’s functional age could be significantly older than their actual age—sometimes by decades.

Dr. Pankaj Garg, lead author and consultant cardiologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, explained: “Our new MRI approach doesn’t just count birthdays—it measures how well your heart is holding up.” This technique may allow doctors to intervene before serious diseases develop, providing preventative treatments and personalized cardiovascular health advice.

This breakthrough represents a major shift in how heart health is evaluated, offering a more precise measure of cardiac aging in relation to lifestyle and existing medical conditions. Experts believe this method could become a standard tool in cardiovascular evaluation, helping detect problems before symptoms appear and improving disease prevention and treatment.

The study was conducted in collaboration with institutions in the UK, Spain, and Singapore, and was funded by Wellcome. Researchers hope this MRI technique will be widely adopted in clinical practice, transforming how heart disease is diagnosed and prevented.