Scientists and doctors from several cities and in the U.S. have provided the first evidence of a shared genetic link between heart disease and diabetes among South Asians. To understand the variant’s role that is causing heart disease and diabetes, researchers used cardiomyacyte cells involved in heart functions. Dhandapany Perundrai, investigator and researcher at the center for cardiovascular biology and disease, led a case study lab that screened 2,552 cardiomyopathy patients with and without diabetes. They found that the variant that is causing heart disease affects a unique variant signaling molecule and its biological process. Perundrai added that a “simple genetic test could help spot individuals highly susceptible to cardio muscle disorder.” Early diagnosis can help to prescribe appropriate preventive health plans to lower harmful effects associated with diseases.
This very important information can help aid in early diagnoses and can help identify individuals with the genetic link. By having this information, researchers and scientists can also develop new preventive strategies for heart disease and diabetes. Because heart disease and diabetes are leading causes of death in multiple south asian countries, this can help to lower the death rate and further improve health in those countries. It is also shown that the earlier you treat a disease, the better of a chance you have at improving its condition and treating it. Especially with heart diseases, many people don’t realize they’re too late for treatment and help until it’s too late. If doctors are able to screen young children for this genetic link and be able to treat it from the start, then that person will have a better chance at surviving and beating it.
While of course this discovery is amazing and good for South Asians, it can also worry some people about it causing the population to grow more rapidly. Because India is one of the leading countries in population growth, this could possibly cause their population to increase more because they now have the possibility to prevent deaths related to heart disease and diabetes.