Researchers have found that damage to the body’s tiniest blood vessels may underlie several age‑related health problems women face.
A $7.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging fuels a five‑year study that pulls together cardiologists, neurologists, biostatisticians and frailty specialists in a bid to map the microvasculature across heart, brain and muscle.
The work sits in the Smidt Heart Institute’s Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, named after the singer who donated $10 million to Cedars‑Sinai. Previous research here has tied small‑vessel disease, chronic inflammation and iron overload to impaired function in the heart, brain and kidneys.
Women often notice microvascular disease through subtle symptoms—fatigue, shortness of breath, or cognitive fog—that can be mistaken for aging or other conditions, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
If the study confirms a shared biological pathway, clinicians could use early imaging and personalized preventive care to protect heart, brain and mobility, potentially staving off heart attacks, strokes and frailty.
Talk with your doctor about microvascular health and consider lifestyle changes—like regular aerobic exercise, a heart‑healthy diet and avoiding smoking—that support the smallest blood vessels. Early detection can mean a healthier, more independent life.