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A team of scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA) has developed a new tool that tells how old your heart really is. This tool doesn’t go by your birth date. Instead, it looks at how well your heart is working. The goal is to help people find out if their hearts are ageing too fast—and to act before it’s too late.

The study, led by Dr. Pankaj Garg, a cardiologist at UEA, was published in the European Heart Journal. It uses heart imaging to check how healthy the heart is. Then, it compares that to what a normal heart should look like at your age. The result is your “functional heart age.”

This new tool could help people avoid heart attacks or strokes. It’s still being tested, but doctors hope it could one day be used in clinics.

How the Tool Works

The team studied heart MRI scans from 557 people across the UK, Spain, and Singapore. Most of these people were older adults. Out of the 557 participants, 336 had at least one risk factor for heart problems. These risk factors included obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Using the scans, the scientists checked the size of the heart chambers and how well the heart was pumping. These are important signs of heart health. They then created a formula to estimate how old the heart “feels” based on how well it works.

This “heart age” doesn’t just go by how many candles were on your last birthday cake. It shows the actual condition of your heart. A healthy 50-year-old might have a heart age of 45. But someone else, also 50, might have a heart that functions more like that of a 60-year-old.

The Results: Risk Factors Speed Up Heart Age

The findings were clear. People with obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure had hearts that were, on average, 4.6 years older than their actual age.

Some people’s hearts were even decades older than they should have been.

“These people may look fine on the outside,” said Dr. Garg, “but their hearts are ageing faster than normal because of hidden health problems.”

That is why the tool could be so helpful. It could alert people to take steps before serious heart problems appear. Things like better food choices, regular exercise, and quitting smoking could slow down the heart’s ageing.

Why Heart Age Matters

Most people know that smoking and obesity are bad for the heart. But not everyone sees the danger until it’s too late. That’s why tools like this are important. They make the risk feel real.

Instead of telling someone, “You’re at risk of heart disease,” a doctor might say, “Your heart is ten years older than it should be.” That kind of message is easier to understand. And it can be a wake-up call.

“This is not about scaring people,” Dr. Garg said. “It’s about giving them the knowledge they need to make better choices. If you know your heart is ageing too fast, you can do something about it.”

Early Warnings Could Save Lives

Heart disease is still one of the top causes of death around the world. In the UK, it causes more than 160,000 deaths each year, according to the British Heart Foundation. That’s one death every three minutes.

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 695,000 people died from heart disease in 2021. That’s 1 in every 5 deaths.

Doctors say early detection is key. Often, people with heart problems don’t notice any symptoms until the damage is serious. A tool like this could help spot problems early, long before someone ends up in the hospital.

Next Steps and Challenges

Although the tool shows promise, there are some limits. The study group was small, and most of the people were older. This may have created what researchers call “survivor bias.” In simple terms, it means the results may not apply to younger or more diverse groups.

Also, the model doesn’t consider how long someone has lived with their health problems. For example, someone who just got diagnosed with diabetes may not be the same as someone who has had it for 20 years.

That’s why Dr. Garg and his team say more research is needed. They want to test the tool in larger and more diverse groups, including younger people and different ethnic backgrounds.

Still, the idea is exciting. If it passes more tests, this tool could become part of regular heart checkups.

A New Way to Prevent Heart Disease

This heart age tool is not yet available in clinics, but the early signs are hopeful. Doctors and health experts say it could become a powerful way to help people understand their health and take control of their future.

“It’s much easier to prevent a heart attack than to survive one,” Dr. Garg said. “And tools like this give us a better chance.”

If you are concerned about your heart health, now is a good time to act. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Move your body every day. Get regular checkups. And stay informed.