Golden retrievers may have brought scientists closer to understanding and one day preventing a deadly heart condition that also kills humans without warning. A North Carolina State University team has identified a genetic mutation in retrievers tied to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease that thickens the heart muscle and can trigger sudden cardiac death. HCM affects 1 in 500 people and is a leading cause of unexpected deaths in young adults and athletes. It’s even more prevalent in cats (1 in 7) and in pig or rhesus macaque families (1 in 4). By pinpointing the TNNI3 gene mutation in retrievers, researchers believe the discovery could protect dogs while paving the way for breakthroughs in human heart health.
