Researchers found that two substances in the blood, usually used to check heart health, were also linked to a higher risk of developing cancer over time. This suggests that simple blood tests may provide clues about both heart and overall health.
Discoveries
Did you know that findings from MESA have been widely published in well-respected scientific journals and at research conferences? Indeed, data gathered from MESA has been used in over 2,300 published papers. Each of these papers represents an important contribution to the body of medical knowledge, which in turn helps medical professionals provide their patients with better care. Below, you can read about what researchers have learned from your participation in MESA.
This study found that signs of heart dysfunction, known as left ventricular injury (LVI), seen on MRI scans were linked to a higher risk of future stroke and dementia. These findings suggest that heart health may play an important role in long-term brain health.
This study found that living closer to walkable and social destinations is linked to better cognitive processing speed in older adults, but the benefits decrease with distance, and there was little effect on overall cognitive function.
Maintaining a regular sleep schedule with sufficient sleep may help increase longevity.
Researchers found that removing race and ethnicity as a variable from the MESA risk score for predicting coronary heart disease did not reduce its accuracy, highlighting the potential to make clinical algorithms more equitable and inclusive.
Long-term exposure to air pollution, particularly from vehicle exhaust and fine particles, significantly increases the risk of dangerous blood clots in veins that bring blood to the heart.
This study found that fluctuations in blood sugar levels over time are linked to declines in thinking and memory as people age, particularly in those with diabetes. Maintaining stable blood sugar may help protect brain health, with future research aiming to explore this further using advanced monitoring tools.
A study investigating the connection between red meat and inflammation found that while unprocessed red meat intake was initially associated with higher inflammation markers, this link disappeared when accounting for body weight. Surprisingly, processed red meat showed no significant association, and the research highlighted the complexity of these relationships, emphasizing the need for further exploration.
The study explores the complex relationship between alcohol consumption and body fat distribution, revealing that heavy drinking and binge drinking are linked to higher fat levels around the heart and liver, while light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower fat levels in these areas.
Study reveals weight gain and slow walking pace increase chronic kidney disease risk in non-diabetic obese adults, emphasizing the importance of maintaining healthy weight and physical fitness.
This study suggests that analyzing the shape of the left ventricle through MRI scans could be a helpful way to predict and monitor cardiovascular problems and improve personalized medicine approaches in the future.
This study suggests that elevated lipoprotein is an important factor in coronary heart disease.
The study identified three main factors contributing to the risk: hypoxic burden, ventilatory burden, and nighttime arousals.
Researchers found that living in areas that were historically redlined had an impact on cardiovascular health, especially for Black participants.
This study found that people with more irregular sleep patterns had higher levels of calcium in their arteries, which can be a sign of heart trouble.