Revolutionizing Cardiac Research with Miniature Human Hearts
Organoids, miniature human hearts, are transforming the study of pregnancy complications and birth defects. Researchers are using these tiny hearts to explore human heart development and seek solutions for congenital heart diseases. By mimicking the structure and function of the human heart, organoids offer new possibilities for understanding heart formation and advancing treatments for congenital heart defects.
Study Links Pregnancy Complications to Future Heart Health Risks for Children
Recent research presented at the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine’s annual pregnancy meeting has revealed that children born to mothers with pregnancy complications like high blood pressure or diabetes are more prone to developing heart-related issues at a young age. By the age of 12, these children have a higher likelihood of being overweight and being diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar. The study, supported by the government and tracking 3,300 mother-and-child pairs globally for over a decade, emphasizes the correlation between healthy pregnancies and child health, but does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.