Are researchers getting closer to developing a heart disease vaccine?

Most people are surprised to learn that the leading cause of death for both men and women here in the U.S. is not cancer, but rather heart disease. Indeed, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that roughly 720,000 Americans suffer a heart attack every year, while roughly 600,000 Americans die of heart disease every year.

In addition, the CDC has determined that the costs related to heart disease average an astounding $108 billion every year, including health care costs, medications and, of course, lost productivity.

In light of these sobering statistics, the news that a team of researchers is moving ever closer to developing a vaccine to effectively eliminate heart disease becomes all the more encouraging.

According to a study published in the most recent edition of the medical journal Circulation Research, the researchers used advanced genetic engineering procedures to essentially edit the genomes of mice.

How exactly was this possible?

The researchers identified a French family carrying a genetic mutation that allows their bodies' to produce low levels of LDL cholesterol, which can cause heart disease when present in high amounts. Previous research has shown that people with the genetic mutation have an 88 percent lower risk of developing heart disease.

Here, the researchers used the aforementioned advanced genetic engineering procedures to splice the DNA sequences giving the family this genetic advantage into the genome of the mice. Once this genetic reshuffling was completed, the researchers joined it with a virus, which are frequently used in this capacity by researchers due to their biological ability to penetrate cells.

The mice were then injected and, within mere days, over half of them showed 30-40 less cholesterol in their blood.

The researchers attributed this phenomenon to the spliced genetic material from the family, which reduced the production of a protein otherwise responsible for keeping LDL circulating in the bloodstream.  

"What has me excited as a cardiologist is that my goal is eradicating disease," said the lead researcher. "There is no bolder way I can put it. I want to eradicate the disease and this offers one potential way to do it."

It is worth noting that the researcher did indicate that more testing was needed, and that a real heart disease vaccine might be 10 years or more away.

While these research efforts are incredibly encouraging, it's important for those suffering from serious heart problems that have left them unable to work to know that Social Security disability benefits might provide the assistance they need right now to help make ends meet.

Source: Time, "A 'vaccine' for heart disease could mean no pills, lettuce or a gym," Alice Park, June 11, 2014