Project R-16475

Unveiling the Athlete's Heart: a Comprehensive Exploration of Atherosclerosis in Lifelong, Highly Trained Endurance Athletes (Research)

Cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD), is the leading cause of death in Europe. Regular exercise protects the heart, but recent studies suggest that long-term endurance athletes may have a higher risk of developing coronary plaques—a key CAD indicator. To explore this, our Master@Heart study examined 558 participants, comparing lifelong endurance athletes, late-onset athletes, and low-risk individuals. Surprisingly, lifelong athletes had more coronary plaques despite their otherwise healthy lifestyles. We now aim to understand why by investigating: (1) How exercise-related inflammation contributes to plaque formation using advanced heart imaging. (2) How lipid metabolism and cholesterol levels affect plaque development. (3) Whether genetic factors, including high lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels, play a role. (4) The impact of training intensity and duration on plaque formation. (5) How long-term high-intensity exercise influences vascular stiffness and heart health. By answering these questions, we hope to develop better guidelines for endurance athletes, ensuring they can train safely while protecting their hearts.

01 January 2026 - 31 December 2029