Why does the risk of heart disease go up as we age? Known risk factors such as hypertension or high cholesterol don’t explain all cases. A first-of-its-kind study from Boston Children’s Hospital now shows that the cells that make up our heart muscle accumulate new genetic mutations over time -; while losing the ability to … Read more
Cardiomyopathy is not a uniform disease. Rather, individual genetic defects lead to heart failure in different ways, an international consortium reports in Science. The molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to heart failure in people with cardiomyopathy are determined by the specific gene variant that each patient carries, according to newly published research based on … Read more
The genes involved in coronary heart disease, the most common form of heart disease, appear to be nearly the same for everyone, according to a VA study. Roughly one-third to one-half of everyone’s chances for developing this type of heart disease are rooted in their genes. This genetic risk seems to be the same across … Read more
When astronauts go to outer space, microgravity, intense cosmic radiation and extreme cold can have negative impacts on their bodies and health. Scientists want to better understand the intricate details of what happens to humans in space, and they’re trying to come up with ways to counteract these effects. Below are some recent papers published … Read more