Mass General researchers find a link between accelerated aging in the placenta and peripartum cardiomyopathy, with elevated aging-related proteins and possible new therapeutic approach.

Mass General researchers link accelerated aging in the placenta to a rare form of pregnancy-induced heart failure, peripartum cardiomyopathy. Elevated levels of aging-related proteins in blood and placenta are linked to the condition, and targeting these proteins improved heart function in a lab model, suggesting a potential new approach for therapeutic development. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a major cause of maternal death.