GENE THERAPY OFFERS HEART ATTACK HOPE

PIONEERING gene therapy may spare future heart attack patients from irreversible and life-shortening cardiac damage, according to researchers.

Scientists at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh say they’ve identified genes that are “switched on” following a heart attack. These genes trigger immediate and future cell death — and ultimately lead to the development of incurable heart failure. But the team says the breakthrough discovery paves the way for targeted treatments to “switch off” the rogue genes.