How a Gene Can Help Keep Hearts Healthy
Sequence variations in PCSK9, low LDL, and protection against coronary heart disease.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some people have a special version of a gene that keeps their 'bad' cholesterol low their whole life, and they get heart disease much less often.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 559 / 72
Evidence Score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some people have a special version of a gene that keeps their 'bad' cholesterol low their whole life, and they get heart disease much less often.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 559 / 72
Evidence Score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Publication
Authors
Cohen JC, Boerwinkle E, Mosley TH Jr, Hobbs HH
Related Content
Claims (7)
People with certain genetic changes that turn down a protein called PCSK9 tend to have lower 'bad' cholesterol their whole lives and are much less likely to get heart disease.
Loss-of-function mutations in the PCSK9 gene are associated with lifelong lower LDL cholesterol and a substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
White adults with a certain gene variant have lower bad cholesterol and are nearly half as likely to get heart disease over 15 years — showing that even a small, lifelong drop in cholesterol can really protect your heart.
People who naturally have lower 'bad' cholesterol because of their genes tend to have cleaner arteries, which means less buildup of plaque over time.
People born with certain gene changes that lower their bad cholesterol over their whole life have a lower chance of heart disease — the more their cholesterol is lowered, the lower their risk.