Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have developed a revolutionary new way of uncovering the 'true age' of your heart using MRI.
Research published today shows how an MRI scan can reveal your heart's functional age - and how unhealthy lifestyles can dramatically accelerate this figure.
It is hoped that the findings could transform how heart disease is diagnosed - offering a lifeline to millions by catching problems before they become deadly.
The team say their cutting-edge technique is a "game changer".
Lead researcher Dr Pankaj Garg, from UEA's Norwich Medical School and a consultant cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: "Imagine finding out that your heart is 'older' than you are. For people with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity, this is often the case.
