New findings on the prevention of heart attacks and strokes

(© Image: Depositphotos) - Blockage of arterial blood vessels caused by atherosclerosis is largely responsible for heart attacks and strokes, which are the most common causes of death worldwide. The complex mechanisms that lead to pathological changes in the arteries are not yet fully understood. An international research team led by the Medical University of Vienna and the University Hospital of Würzburg has now made important progress in understanding this disease and identified potential new approaches for early detection and therapy. The results of the study were recently published in the scientific journal "Nature Cardiovascular Research". Researchers already know that specialised cells called macrophages are central to the development of atherosclerosis. These cells play a critical role in the formation of so-called plaques, which narrow or block the arteries and can lead to dangerous complications - above all'heart attacks and strokes. However, the exact mechanisms of how macrophages function in this process are not yet fully understood.