A life span approach to cardiovascular disease risk and aging: the Fels Longitudinal Study.

As the leading cause of chronic disease mortality in developed nations, cardiovascular disease is a widely prevalent condition that is integral to evaluation of aging populations. Chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes have been associated with adulthood body composition-namely excess body fat, altered lipid levels and elevated blood pressures. The Fels Longitudinal Study conducted at the Lifespan Health Research Center at Wright State University's School of Medicine has examined these same health status indicators-body composition, blood pressure, lipids, maturation, and hormones-during early life and their relationships to developing risk factors for these chronic diseases in adulthood. Research conducted during the past 10 years has shown health status indicators to track over time from childhood to adulthood. Furthermore, chronic disease risk factors attained during childhood, adolescence or early adulthood may represent an early warning system for future risk of developing cardiovascular disease.