The Menopausal Transition and Cardiovascular Aging: Implications for Prevention in Midlife.

Midlife is a critical period for cardiovascular health, especially for women undergoing the menopause transition. During this time, normal cardiovascular aging may accelerate in the presence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, obesity, chronic inflammation, and environmental exposures. The dynamic interaction between vascular and myocardial structural and functional remodeling, alongside cellular hallmarks of cardiovascular aging, underscores the biological complexity of this period. Importantly, lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular health scores can serve as modifiable targets, highlighting a critical opportunity for early preventive strategies to support healthy aging.