Rare mutations in two genes was associated with a greatly increased risk of having a heart attack early in life. An analysis of more than 9,000 genomes revealed that changes in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene (LDLR) and in the apolipoprotein A-V (APOA5) gene were linked with elevated levels of plasma LDL cholesterol and plasma triglycerides. The results, published December 10 in Nature, suggest that issues with triglyceride metabolism, along with high LDL cholesterol, may factor into the risk of having a heart attack earlier in life.
