Maintaining healthy habits during childhood and adolescence may be key to improving cardiovascular (CV) health as individuals transition into adulthood, according to a recent study published in JAMA Cardiology. The findings suggest that poor heart health can begin as early as age 10, with lifestyle factors like diet, physical activity, and sleep playing a critical role in shaping long-term CV outcomes.
The study, led by Dr. Izzuddin M. Aris from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, analyzed data from Project Viva, a Massachusetts-based cohort study that enrolled pregnant women between 1999 and 2002. The research aimed to identify the age at which CV health begins to decline and the sociodemographic factors that may influence this trajectory.
Researchers tracked CV metrics—including diet, exercise, nicotine exposure, sleep duration, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure—at different childhood stages: early childhood (around age 3), middle childhood (age 7), early adolescence (age 13), and late adolescence (age 17). The study found that CV health scores started to decline around age 10, with male children showing a slight delay compared to females.
The study showed that CV health scores were influenced more by behavioral factors—such as lifestyle habits—than by biological markers like BMI or blood pressure. For example, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and insufficient sleep contributed significantly to declining heart health during adolescence.
Sociodemographic factors also played a role. Children of mothers with lower education levels or household incomes under $70,000 had poorer CV health trajectories compared to those with more educated or wealthier mothers. Additionally, children from racial minorities, including Black and non-Hispanic children, experienced declines in CV health at older ages compared to their white peers.
Dr. Aris emphasized that behavioral habits, rather than biology, are the primary drivers of heart health in children. “This suggests that early intervention targeting lifestyle changes could prevent long-term cardiovascular problems,” the researchers noted. They also pointed out that socioeconomic factors, such as access to healthy foods and safe environments for physical activity, may contribute to disparities in heart health.
In a related editorial, experts Natalie A. Cameron and Norrina B. Allen highlighted the complex interplay of biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors in shaping heart health. They stressed that addressing these factors early, through comprehensive public health initiatives, could significantly improve CV outcomes over a person’s lifetime.
The study underscores the importance of fostering healthy habits early in life, particularly during critical developmental periods. By focusing on these early intervention points, there is potential to reduce future cardiovascular disease risk and create lasting health improvements across generations.
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