Robert Lufkin MD: CT Calcium Score for Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s, and Cancer

The CT coronary artery calcium (CAC) score serves as a critical diagnostic tool that extends beyond heart disease to predict risks for Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Unlike traditional lipid panels, this non-invasive five-to-ten-minute scan directly detects arterial calcification, acting as a biological clock for aging and a precise indicator of systemic inflammatory and metabolic stress. While a score of zero represents optimal health, scores above 100 correlate with a 10-to-37-fold increase in mortality risk. Although medical professionals often dismiss elevated scores in older adults as "normal," these levels frequently precede chronic illness and cognitive decline. Because calcification is an active pathogenic process rather than an inevitable consequence of aging, aggressive lifestyle interventions can slow disease progression to under 5% annually. Regular monitoring every three to five years for those with zero scores, or annually for those with elevations, provides a proactive framework for longevity management.