Decoding DNA to prevent heart disease Decoding DNA to prevent heart disease
By unlocking insights hidden in our genes, Dr. Guillaume Paré’s research is helping identify people at risk of early heart disease decades sooner, paving the way for earlier intervention.
By unlocking insights hidden in our genes, Dr. Guillaume Paré’s research is helping identify people at risk of early heart disease decades sooner, paving the way for earlier intervention.
Heart disease can strike without warning — even in people who seem young and healthy. For some, the first sign is a life‑altering heart attack in their 30s or 40s. Understanding why this happens, and how to intervene earlier, is at the heart of Dr. Guillaume Paré’s research.
When the Usual Answers Fell Short
At his clinic in Hamilton, Ontario, where Dr. Paré practices as a cardiovascular prevention specialist, he sees people in their 30s and 40s who experience severe heart attacks with little warning.
“When we asked these patients about their family history, they would say, ‘Oh, you know I had a heart attack at 42, and my brother had one at 44,’ and we thought it has to be genetics, right? And yet, we didn't find anything striking when we looked at their individual genes. It was frustrating.”
These cases pointed to a more complex genetic picture. To better understand it, Dr. Paré and his team began looking beyond a single gene or mutation, searching instead for patterns hidden across the genome.
Pioneering a Breakthrough in Genetic Risk
This work led Dr. Paré and his team to help pioneer polygenic risk scoring, a breakthrough that the American Heart Association named one of the top ten advances in cardiovascular research.
Polygenic risk means that many tiny genetic changes — each making very little difference on its own — can add up to have a major impact on a person’s chances of developing heart disease. A polygenic risk score captures this hereditary risk in a single number by weighting hundreds or thousands of genetic variants based on their influence on heart health.
Today, Dr. Paré continues to refine these scores by searching for rarer genetic signals, working toward an even more accurate understanding of what drives early‑onset heart disease.
Exploring Accelerated Aging and Its Impact
More recently, Dr. Paré’s research has expanded to explore accelerated aging — when the body acts and feels older than its chronological age. Over the past five years, he has been investigating how this process may contribute to early heart disease and stroke.
By uncovering how genetics, aging, and heart health intersect, Dr. Paré’s work aims to identify risk earlier — and offer new insight into how everyday choices may influence long‑term health.
Research Made Possible by Donor Support
Dr. Paré’s work is supported by the Heart & Stroke Foundation, whose funding helps make long‑term, high‑impact cardiovascular research possible in Canada.
“Knowing that these funds come directly from the generosity of donors makes the work feel even more meaningful and deeply connected to the patients and families we aim to help.”
