ARIC's Achievements

The ARIC study has published 2000+ studies over the years.
These studies have influenced healthcare to improve clinical care contributing to the dramatic decrease in cardiovascular mortality over the past decades.
ARIC launched an era of subclinical atherosclerosis research studies starting in the late 1980s. The ARIC design combined direct measures of the blood vessels (carotid atherosclerosis) with innovative laboratory studies. The ARIC design was emulated by CHS in older adults, CARDIA in younger adults, and later, MESA for direct measures of coronary disease and SOL in Latinos.  Innovative laboratory studies applied in real time and to stored specimens have led to ever-increasing discoveries about the disease process in the arteries throughout the body informing policies. 

Publications

Mitochondria, the powerhouses of every cell in the boday were found to decrease in number with age.  ARIC researchers are leading the way in measurement of the number and health of these powerhouses.  These measures in stored blood predict risk of heart disease and mortality.  The research suggests strategies for healthier aging.  
Arking, ​JAMA Cardiology 2017

ARIC is leading the way in understanding how new medical tests including the high sensitivity troponin assay should be used clinically.  ARIC showed physical activity's heart healthy effects include lower levels of this new highly sensitive marker of heart muscle damage.  
Ahsar, JAMA Cardiology Heart Failure 2017

A study of diabetes in ARIC showed how physicians might streamline diagnosis, by using two tests (hemoglobin A1c and fasting glucose) measured in one blood sample. In some patients, this would avoid scheduling a second doctor’s visit and a new blood draw. The study findings could lead to changes in the guidelines and for diabetes to be identified more quickly in some individuals.
Selvin, Ann of Int Med 2018

Breakthroughs!

Midlife heart disease risk factors were found to affect brain changes related to Alzheimer's disease in the ARIC PET study.  This suggests that Alzheimer's disease risk could be reduced by paying attention to heart disease risk factors starting at midlife.  Interestingly measuring risk factors in late life was too late to demonstrate this association.
​Gottesman, JAMA 2017

Provided key human evidence in the development of new cholesterol lowering drugs -  PCSK9 inhibitors (approved by the FDA in 2016).  ARIC Showed that loss of function in the PCSK9 genes led to low cholesterol levels, low cardiovascular risk and no safety risks paving the way for drug approval.
Cohen, NEJM2006

Personal Stories

ARIC participants just finished visit 6.  Many expressed thanks for the Ziopatch results alerting them and their physicians to unknown arrhythmias.