This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Calcium build up in the arteries inside the skull (intra-cranial carotid arteries) are commonly found on head CT scans in adults who have elevated CV risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Researchers believe this calcium build up reflects a greater degree of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and may indicate increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Calcium build-up is also found on routine head CT scans in children but its significance in youth is not known. In this research, we will study younger children (6-12 years) and adolescents (13-19 years) with and without calcium build-up in the blood vessels in the skull on CT scan to determine if they relate to CV risk factors like in adults. We will also perform other non-invasive (without needles) tests to see if there is hardening of the arteries in other parts of their bodies (neck, arms, trunk and legs). We will try to determine the causes of calcium build-up such as of body fatness, blood pressure, cholesterol, level of inflammation, risk for diabetes and calcium metabolism. We hope to determine the risk factors for calcium build-up so we can design early intervention strategies to prevent future heart attack and stroke.
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