New blood Test Offers Earlier, More Accurate Heart Attack Prediction, Moving Beyond Cholesterol
LONDON – October 28, 2025 – A groundbreaking blood test capable of predicting heart attacks years before they occur, and with greater accuracy than conventional cholesterol measurements, is poised to revolutionize cardiovascular care.Researchers at imperial College London announced today the test identifies subtle changes in cellular energy production, revealing vulnerabilities in heart muscle long before symptoms manifest. The findings,published in Nature Cardiovascular Research on October 27,2025,offer a potential paradigm shift in preventative cardiology.
For decades, cholesterol levels have been the primary metric for assessing heart attack risk. However, many individuals with “normal” cholesterol still experience cardiac events, while others with high cholesterol never do. This new test, measuring levels of the metabolite succinate, addresses this limitation by pinpointing early indicators of mitochondrial dysfunction – a key factor in heart disease progress. Experts estimate that cardiovascular disease affects approximately 31.1 million adults in the United States alone,accounting for one in every three deaths. This new diagnostic tool promises to significantly reduce that number by enabling proactive intervention.
The research, led by dr. Dipender Gill, focused on analyzing blood samples from over 8,000 participants in the UK Biobank study. The team discovered that elevated succinate levels correlated strongly with future heart attacks, even after accounting for traditional risk factors like age, blood pressure, and cholesterol. “We found that succinate is a very early marker of heart disease risk,” explained Dr. Gill in a press conference.”It appears even before any changes in cholesterol or blood pressure are detectable.”
The test works by detecting minute increases in succinate, a byproduct of cellular metabolism, which accumulate when the mitochondria – the powerhouses of cells – become stressed or damaged. This mitochondrial dysfunction is a known precursor to heart failure and other cardiovascular problems. Researchers report the test demonstrated 85% accuracy in predicting heart attacks within a five-year timeframe, significantly outperforming standard cholesterol-based risk assessments.
Currently, the test is undergoing further validation in larger clinical trials. Imperial College London has partnered with a diagnostics company to accelerate the development of a commercially available version, anticipated to be available to physicians within the next two to three years.the long-term implications include personalized preventative strategies, such as tailored exercise regimens, dietary modifications, and targeted pharmaceutical interventions, aimed at restoring mitochondrial function and reducing heart attack risk.
