A new study published in the journal Nature described a vaccine that may mitigate atherosclerosis development in mice.
Scientists at Nanjing University of Science and Technology in China wrote “Our nano-vaccine design and preclinical data present a potential candidate for prophylactic treatment for atherosclerosis.”
What is Atherosclerosis?
Doctors say atherosclerosis—an inflammatory disease—is mediated by the body’s innate immunity consisting of natural barriers and enzymes, as well as its adaptive systems, consisting of antibodies.
The eventual hardening of arteries from inflammation can block the blood flow and lead to a stroke, aneurysm or heart attack.
These kinds of arterial blockages were earlier diagnosed through scans but are now treated with surgical procedures like angioplasty, which uses stents to prevent the blood vessels from clogging up.
What did the study say?
The study reports that the “cocktail” design of the vaccine mitigated the progression of plaque and atherosclerosis development in mice fed a high cholesterol diet.
The vaccine worked by helping the body take up the antigen and adjuvant, which then activated the immune system’s star-shaped dendritic cells, as per The Independent.
The changes caused by the vaccine stimulated T cells, sparking the production of antibodies against P210. T cells are the white blood cells key for immune functions to maintain health and prevent disease.
The vaccine latches the P210 antigen onto tiny iron oxide nanoparticles and attaches an adjuvant – a substance used to enhance the immune response of a vaccine – to a different set of nanoparticles.
“In studying the vaccinations against atherosclerosis, an ongoing challenge is deciphering the mechanism of action – a prerequisite for translation of a vaccination protocol to humans,” the team said.
Why are young adults getting heart attacks?
India has witnessed an upsurge in heart attacks among young adults and people in their 30s and 40s. According to a comprehensive medical study published in October 2023, heart attacks were the underlying cause of up to 45% of deaths in the 40-69 years age group.
In most cases, a sedentary lifestyle and related health conditions like high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are the leading culprit of heart attacks. But there seems to be additional reasons.
Some of the common factors causing a heart attack are eating a diet high in cholesterol and trans-fat, not getting enough physical activity, drinking too much alcohol and smoking.
Genetic and family history of heart attacks and high blood pressure and environmental factors such as air pollution, exposure to arsenic and lead and excessive heat can also cause a heart attack.
Most modern diets are filled with fast foods, highly processes items and sugary drinks that have contributed to high rates of obesity, high blood pressure and unhealthy lipid profiles among young adults.
Also, the use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol abuse among young adults can lead to chronic stress, which can negatively impact heart health in several ways.
Studies have found that young adults who reported having depression had more than double the odds of cardiovascular disease compared to those without depression. For people without established cardiovascular disease, those who reported depression had 1.8 times higher odds of poor cardiovascular health than those without depression.
Another data point to correlation between diabetes and heart attacks. Adults with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to die from heart disease. High blood sugar damages blood vessels, increasing the chance of fats building up in the arteries and causing atherosclerosis.
Covid-19 that has changed the world we live in today is also, to an extent, responsible for the growing heart complications among individuals. Researchers estimate that as much as 4% of individuals with Covid-19 will go on to experience heart complications. This percentage may seem small only until you consider that an estimated 66 to 70% of India’s 1.3 billion population have been infected with Covid-19.
However, a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has debunked any correlation between Covid-19 vaccines and heart attacks. In fact, it found that those who were vaccinated were less likely to suffer sudden death, compared to those who were unvaccinated.
According to resident cardiology specialist Dr Okaly, the signs of heart attack in young adults are almost negligible, but some of the recognizable symptoms include cold sweats, fatigue, lightheadedness, nausea and vomiting, pain or discomfort in different parts of the upper body and shortness of breath.
Doctors mention measuring blood pressure regularly could be the first step in sharpening the awareness of a heart attack risk.
According to Dr Okaly, “the risk score QRisk3 is the most suitable for Indians” and “it is able to show the chances of having heart attacks in the next 10 years”.
