Abstract <p>Aortic stiffness is recognized as an independent predictorof cardiovascular events and a marker of early vascular aging. Thegold standard assessment method, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV),has significant limitations: the necessity of access to the groinarea, the requirement for specialized equipment with an ECG channel,and operator dependency. This complicates its widespread use in clinicalpractice. As a solution, a novel method for assessing aortic pulsewave velocity based on carotid Doppler waveform analysis has beenproposed. The technique is based on measuring the time interval betweenthe onset of the early systolic wave and the reflected pulse waveduring an ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries. A comparativestudy involving 157 patients demonstrated a high correlation betweenthe new method and cfPWV (<i>r</i> = 0.758),while Bland–Altman analysis confirmed the potential interchangeabilityof the methods with a correction factor of 1.157. A key advantageof the approach is the possibility of simultaneously assessing cerebralartery stiffness and the degree of systolic load on them throughanalysis of the end-diastolic velocity and pulsatility index fromthe same Doppler waveforms. The method is integrated into a routine ultrasoundexamination of the brachiocephalic arteries, providing a comprehensiveassessment of systemic and cerebral hemodynamics without increasingprocedure time or requiring additional equipment, which opens prospectsfor large-scale vascular age screening.</p>