In a study presented at the scientific session of the American College of Cardiology today in New Orleans, the team led by cardiologists Adel Allam of the Al Azhar Medical School in Cairo and Gregory Thomas of the University of California, Irvine found that 44 out of 52 ancient Egyptian mummies from the royal family of 17th dynasty queen Ahmose-Henutempet, their ministers and staff still possessed identifiable cardiovascular tissue, and of these 45% exhibited definite or probable hardening of the arteries.

Researchers have long known that factors as such as smoking, a genetic predisposition to early heart disease, a calorie-rich diet, and a lifestyle lacking in exercise all increase the risk of atherosclerosis today. According to ancient hieroglyphic inscriptions, wealthy ancient Egyptians relished such calorie-rich fare as cakes sweetened with honey. But they did not smoke tobacco and likely got more exercise than many of us do today.

One factor might have been a high exposure to bacterial infection and infectious disease, such as malaria and schistosomiasis which are endemic in the Nile Valley and the ancient Egyptians had little means of treating them. Inflammation helps to remove the agents of infection and promote healing, but older individuals may have paid a steep price for it: high levels of inflammatory response can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

The team now plans to test this hypothesis by examining CT scans of the mummies for the extent of chronic infections, such as bone infections or periodontal disease.

sciencemag.org and bloomberg.com

The study was conceived by Dr. Gregory Thomas, a cardiologist at UC Irvine, after he read the nameplate of Pharaoh Merenptah in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo. The nameplate says that, when he died at age 60 in 1203 BC, Merenptah was plagued by atherosclerosis, arthritis and dental decay. Because atherosclerosis is characterized by calcium in plaques, Thomas reasoned that some evidence of the disease might still be present even after so long.

Among the 16 mummies who had identifiable arteries or hearts, nine had calcification clearly seen in the arteries or in the path where the arteries should have been. The disease was clearly age-related. Seven of the eight who were over the age of 45 when they died had calcification, compared to only two of eight that were younger than 45. Men and women were affected equally. The most ancient of the mummies afflicted with atherosclerosis was Lady Rai, who had been a nursemaid to Queen Ahmose Nefertari. She died at the age of 30 to 40 around 1530 BC, 200 years before King Tut. Other mummies examined died as recently as AD 364.

The findings should, perhaps not have been surprising. The high-status Egyptians ate a diet high in meat from cattle, ducks and geese, all fatty. Because mechanical refrigeration was not available, salt–another constributing factor in heart disease–was widely used for preservation.

The Los Angeles Times