CT Imaging of Egyptian Mummies Reveal Heart Disease as Ancient Disorder

A new imaging study revealed that atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, was common in ancient Egyptians, contradicting a hypothesis that vascular disease is a modern affliction caused by modern-day risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles and stress.

Michael Miyamoto, M.D., a graduate of the University of California (UC) San Diego School of Medicine (USA) and assistant clinical professor, recently returned to the United States following an expedition to Egypt to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in 3,500-year-old mummies. Results of his study were presented during the American Heart Associate 2009 Scientific Sessions held in Orlando, FL, USA, in November 2009 and published simultaneously November 17, 2009, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

"Our findings show that atherosclerosis is not strictly a disease of modern humans caused by unhealthy lifestyles,” said Dr. Miyamoto, a cardiologist and coinvestigator of the study. "In fact, it is possible that humans have a genetic predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis. Our findings remind us of the value of preventive medicine in eliminating or controlling manifestations of heart and vascular disease.”

In 2009, Dr. Miyamoto and a team of cardiologists and Egyptologists carefully examined 22 mummies from the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities using a six-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner. In the mummies with identifiable arteries, more than half had calcifications in the walls of their arteries. Those who died after the age of 45 showed the highest degree of calcification. Vascular disease was observed in both male and female mummies. "As the mummy CT images appeared on the monitor, we were struck by the fact that our project was made possible by combining the advanced technologies of two different eras--the science of mummification in ancient Egypt and modern imaging,” said Dr. Miyamoto. "In a real sense, this was a scientific collaboration that spanned great time and distance.”

The oldest mummified Egyptian exhibiting the greatest degree of atherosclerosis was Lady Rai. The nursemaid to Queen Ahmose Nefertiti, Lady Rai lived to an age between 30 and 40 years old circa 1530 B.C. To put this in perspective, Lady Rai lived about 300 years before the time of Moses and 200 years before King Tutankhamun.

Amazed by their findings, the cardiologists asked the Egyptian preservation team to share data about the lifestyle of ancient Egypt. In general, all who were later mummified served in the court of the Pharaoh or as priests or priestesses. With respect to diet, eating duck, beef, and other poultry was not uncommon. Since refrigeration was unavailable, salt was widely used for meat preservation. Tobacco was not available and without mechanical transportation, they were likely physically active.

This study was funded by Siemens Healthcare (Erlangen, Germany) and the Bank of Egypt.

Related Links:
University of California San Diego School of Medicine
Siemens Healthcare