Genetic mutation blamed for mysterious heart condition killing young members of Amish community

[D]octors at the Mayo Clinic say they’ve uncovered the cause of a mysterious heart condition that had suddenly killed over a dozen young, healthy members of a tight-knit Amish community. The culprit? A previously undiscovered genetic mutation that runs in families.

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As is often the case with smaller, isolated communities of people, the Amish have more in common genetically with one another than people living in a typical modern community do with their neighbors. Unfortunately, the less genetically diverse a population is, the easier it is for harmful genetic conditions to emerge and be passed down to the next generation.

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The mutation and the condition it causes—coined “calcium release channel deficiency syndrome” by the team—still needs to be studied by other researchers before it can be confirmed as a genuine disorder. But so far, 23 people have been identified with the mutation, with 18 having died, across the two families, while more relatives are being tested by the team. [Cardiologist Michael] Ackerman said his team’s work has been greatly appreciated and celebrated by the families.

Read full, original post: A Genetic Mutation Is Responsible for Mysterious Deaths in the Amish Community, Researchers Say