Insights into How Calcium Forms Plaques in Arteries Pave the Way for New Treatments for Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and its primary cause is hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. As people grow older, fat, cholesterol, and calcium build up in the walls of arteries and form hard structures called plaques. The process of calcium accumulation in blood vessels resembles bone formation and involves maintaining a balance between bone-forming cells called osteoblasts and bone-destroying cells called osteoclasts. The resulting plaques cause arteries to become narrow and stiff and can obstruct blood flow. As a consequence, oxygen-starved tissue can become damaged or die, leading to heart attack and stroke. Although many risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, the cause is not known and there is currently no way to reverse it once it sets in.