According to the New York Times, a study recently published in The Lancet and led by Dr. Maciej Tomaszweski of the University of Leicester tested the hypothesis that heart disease affects men more than women because it is somehow linked to the Y chromosome. The researchers found that the majority of British men have one of two variants of a cluster of genes on their Y chromosomes and that they were 50% more at risk of heart disease than those with the other variant. Other things that could increase a man’s risk of heart disease such as high cholesterol and smoking were isolated and did not influence the results of the study. However, this study was inconclusive because they could not determine the exact genes in the cluster that were responsible and exactly why they possibly contribute to the increased risk of heart disease. Few studies in the past have attempted to find a relationship between the Y chromosome and heart disease in men. Although this research could not prove a link between heart disease in men and the Y chromosome, it does provide a fresh and interesting perspective on the contributing factors for heart disease in men. Dr. Tomaszweski’s hypothesis will need to undergo further testing before it can be confirmed but it may be worthwhile to do so.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Heart disease in men may be linked to the Y chromosome
According to the New York Times, a study recently published in The Lancet and led by Dr. Maciej Tomaszweski of the University of Leicester tested the hypothesis that heart disease affects men more than women because it is somehow linked to the Y chromosome. The researchers found that the majority of British men have one of two variants of a cluster of genes on their Y chromosomes and that they were 50% more at risk of heart disease than those with the other variant. Other things that could increase a man’s risk of heart disease such as high cholesterol and smoking were isolated and did not influence the results of the study. However, this study was inconclusive because they could not determine the exact genes in the cluster that were responsible and exactly why they possibly contribute to the increased risk of heart disease. Few studies in the past have attempted to find a relationship between the Y chromosome and heart disease in men. Although this research could not prove a link between heart disease in men and the Y chromosome, it does provide a fresh and interesting perspective on the contributing factors for heart disease in men. Dr. Tomaszweski’s hypothesis will need to undergo further testing before it can be confirmed but it may be worthwhile to do so.
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This is a very interesting theory that sex could contribute to the occurrence of heart disease. I can't imagine that there is something in the Y chromosome that would actually put males at a higher risk for heart disease, however I guess nothing is impossible. Although I do believe this theory will call for a closer examination of causes of heart disease amongst all sexes.
ReplyDeleteThis is very intriguing; however, while heart disease in men is greater than women, heart disease does affect women too. Could there be a mutation on the X chromosome that is identical to the mutations on the Y-Chromosome that increase the risk in men, but still leave women susceptible to heart disease? This article raises interesting questions about men and their increased risk. This was probably the intuitive jump that can lead to the cause behind heart disease and the effects on men, and lead researchers to have a more intense look on the the variants on the Y-chromosome and their possible link to heart disease.
ReplyDeleteThe Y chromosome hypothesis is interesting but it would be hard to prove if you exclude smoking and high cholesterol. If it can be genetically traced those factors of lifestyle must be considered as well. Even though men develop heart disease more frequently than women this doesn't mean that women are still not at risk and they do not have a Y chromosome. This leads me to believe that heart disease is developed because of a lifestyle rather than genetics.
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