Heart Shape’s Hidden Clues: Unraveling the Genetic Secrets Behind Cardiac Health and Disease

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Researchers at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai have made a gentle observation that individuals with round, baseball-like hearts may be more susceptible to future heart failure and atrial fibrillation than those with elongated, Valentine-shaped hearts. The findings were published in Med—Cell Press’ new peer-reviewed medical journal, and utilized deep learning and sophisticated imaging analysis to explore the genetics of heart structure.

The researchers, led by Dr. David Ouyang, a cardiologist at the Smidt Heart Institute, found that people with spherical hearts had a 31% increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation and a 24% increased likelihood of developing cardiomyopathy, a form of heart muscle disease. This discovery was made after examining cardiac MRI images of 38,897 healthy individuals from the UK Biobank and employing computational models to pinpoint genetic markers associated with these heart conditions.

Dr. Ouyang shared that they identified four genes linked to cardiomyopathy, three of which were also linked to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, significantly raises an individual’s risk of stroke. Its prevalence is rising, and it is projected to affect 12.1 million people in the U.S. by 2030. Cardiomyopathy, on the other hand, affects heart muscle function and can ultimately result in heart failure.

The researchers at Cedars-Sinai explained that a person’s heart shape can change over time, often becoming rounder, particularly after a significant cardiac event like a heart attack. Dr. Christine M. Albert, a study author, emphasized that understanding these changes in heart shape, along with improved imaging techniques, is a crucial step in preventing these serious health conditions.

Dr. Ouyang highlighted the importance of further studies and the potential for cardiac imaging to diagnose and prevent many conditions more effectively. He also pointed out that large biobanks with cardiac imaging data, combined with deep learning and computer vision, can offer faster and more comprehensive cardiac measures, potentially identifying genetic variations that impact the heart years or even decades before the onset of heart disease.

Key Takeaways in a Nutshell – Health Newstrack

– Researchers at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai found that individuals with round, baseball-like hearts may be more susceptible to future heart failure and atrial fibrillation than those with elongated, Valentine-shaped hearts.

– A person’s heart shape can change over time, often becoming rounder, particularly after a significant cardiac event like a heart attack.

– Understanding these changes in heart shape, along with improved imaging techniques, is a crucial step in preventing serious health conditions such as atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy.


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