Why am I always pushing for heart scans and carotid ultrasound??  Its becasue calcification can also be an indicator of increased risk of dementia and stroke. Calcification of the carotid artery has already been shown to predict the risk for stroke. Calcification of the heart's blood vessels is already known to be a big predictor of risk of heart attack.

Arterial calcification in major vessel beds outside the brain, as shown with MRI, is also associated with vascular brain disease and may be linked to future risk for dementia and stroke, a new study shows.

Carotid calcification load predicts brain damage and risk of stroke independent of ultrasound carotid plaque score.

The relationship between calcium in atherosclerotic plaque and brain changes exists on top of the effect of classic cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes. 

The amount of calcified plaque outside the brain provided more information about the extent of brain changes than traditional ultrasound measures of plaque in the carotid artery, the authors add. This is the type of carotid ultrasound most patients get. A CT scan might be better.

The findings were published online August 25 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

 

 

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA2 or just PLA2) is an enzyme produced mainly by white blood cells that is more cardiospecific than CRP.  Lp-PLA2 levels are higher in atherosclerotic plaque than in surrounding tissues as well as in the fibrous cap of arterial plaque prone to rupture. Plaque rupture is the number 1 casue of heart attacks. Though still a relatively new marker it has gained ground as an independent risk factor for heart attack and stroke. In the bloodstream Lp-PLA2 is attached to LDL and HDL cholesterol.  Elevated Lp-PLA2 levels have been shown to be predictive of cardiovascular events in more than 25 prospective epidemiologic studies published since 2000. Lp-PLA₂ is inactive until LDL undergoes oxidation. After LDL oxidation Lp-PLA2 reacts and forms two proathrogenic molecules that trigger a cascade of inflammatory events.

Lp-PLA2 strongly predicts the chance of a second cardiovascular event in patients with pre-existing CHD as well. It is an emerging independent risk factor even after taking into account other markers of inflammation, kidney function, and blood viscosity. People with levels in the top 25% had twice the risk of an event as compared with those in the bottom 25%.

Get your Lp-PLA2 tested today.

Strategies to reduce PLA-2 include:

·         ashwaganda ( Withania somnifera)

·         fish oil (marine omega-3 fatty acids)

·         the plant derived antioxidants quercetin and naringenin, and resveratrol

·         address liver stressors such as alcohol, acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Learn about more strategies in my new book Dare to Live.