The retired football star — one of the most recognizable athletes of his generation — recently caught the attention of Lithuanian cardiologist Rokas Šerpytis, who spotted a diagonal crease on Beckham’s right earlobe, a feature medically known as Frank’s Crease.
According to research, this small wrinkle can sometimes be linked to atherosclerosis, a condition where fatty deposits build up inside arteries, potentially leading to heart disease.
Out of curiosity, Dr. Šerpytis looked into Beckham’s family history and discovered that heart issues had already affected his relatives. He pointed out that Beckham’s father was hospitalized in 2007 after a heart attack and underwent surgery to clear blocked arteries.
While Šerpytis didn’t suggest Beckham is in immediate danger, he noted that turning 50 is an age when preventive health checks become especially important.
The link between earlobe creases and heart disease first appeared in a 1973 study by Dr. Sanders T. Frank, who found the feature in many heart patients. A more recent 2021 Oxford study described the crease as a possible “dermatological marker” for coronary artery disease — though researchers emphasized it doesn’t prove a direct connection.
Other cardiologists, however, remain unconvinced. Dr. Paul D. Thompson, Chief Cardiologist-Emeritus at Hartford Hospital, said he doesn’t consider the crease medically significant, recalling that the idea was mentioned in medical school but never gained serious acceptance.
“I don’t look for it or note it in my patient charts,” Thompson said. “There are far more reliable indicators for assessing heart health.”
While the medical community remains divided, Šerpytis suggests that Beckham — now 50 — should continue monitoring his health and managing any risk factors to stay on top of potential concerns.