Cardiac Calcification and Cholesterol Efflux in Older Adults

This study examines; 1) coronary artery and heart valve calcification in individuals resilient to pathologic aging, 2) determines if these individuals have an improved ability to remove cholesterol from heart tissues as a potential protective mechanism against cardiac calcification, and 3) explores candidate protective genes against cardiac calcification for the overall aim of identifying new pathways which could be targeted for the prevention or treatment of coronary artery and heart valve disease. The research addresses the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute’s strategic research priorities on the pathobiology of calcification of coronary arteries and heart valves, and resiliency to disease. This research also addresses the broader NHLBI mission to prevent heart disease in older adults, so that Americans not only achieve longevity, but extended healthspan.