Researchers have developed cutting-edge MRI technology to diagnose a common heart problem more quickly and accurately than ever before.

Aortic stenosis is a progressive and potentially fatal condition, affecting about five per cent of 65-year-olds in the US - with increasing prevalence in advancing age. 

Symptoms include chest pains, a rapid fluttering heartbeat and feeling dizzy, short of breath and fatigued – particularly with activity.

The new study reveals how a four-dimensional flow (4D flow) MRI scan can diagnose aortic stenosis more reliably than current ultrasound techniques.

The superior accuracy of the new test means doctors can better predict when patients will require surgery. 

Healthy hearts are adaptable, and heartbeats exhibit complex variation as they adjust to tiny changes in the body and environment. Mass General Brigham researchers have applied a new way to measure the complexity of pulse rates, using data collected through wearable pulse oximetry devices. The new method, published in Journal of the American Heart Association, provides a more detailed peek into heart health than traditional measures, uncovering a link between reduced complexity and future cognitive decline.

People who are given a vaccine for shingles have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease, according to a study of more than a million people published in the European Heart Journal. The protective effect of the vaccine lasts for up to eight years and is particularly pronounced for men, people under the age of 60 and those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and being inactive.