Dallas Hearts and Minds Study

Launched by UT Southwestern in 2000 as the Dallas Heart Study, the Dallas Hearts and Minds Study is now a leading U.S. population-based study on heart health, with key findings that have advanced the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and heart failure.

Expanded Focus

In its third phase, the study has expanded to explore brain health, with about 1,500 participants undergoing cardiac ultrasounds, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, brain and full-body MRIs, and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to map brain activity.

Participants – some involved since the study's inception – are also assessed for cognitive function, pain, and subtypes of pain during physical activity. As the only single-center heart study of its size and multi-ethnic composition, the Dallas Hearts and Minds Study has been groundbreaking for UT Southwestern, with researchers worldwide using its data to advance understanding of cardiovascular and brain health.

Demographics

The initial cohort of the Dallas Heart Study included a higher proportion of Black residents to reflect Dallas' genetic diversity and the greater prevalence of heart disease in that population.

By the Numbers

230+

Papers published in leading medical journals citing DHS data

27%

Of Black men in the DHS had hypertension and were not bring treated

>75%

Of participants were obese or overweight

8%

Of participants were diabetic and 40% did not know

45%

Of Hispanics had elevated liver fat vs. 33% of Whites and 24% of Blacks

Key Discoveries

PCSK9 Mutations Lead to New Drug

Helen Hobbs, M.D., and Jonathan Cohen, Ph.D., identified two PCSK9 gene mutations that cause low cholesterol levels. Their findings led to the development of PCSK9-inhibitors, a new class of drugs that effectively lower high cholesterol in patients who don't respond well to traditional treatments like statins.

Genetic Link to Low Triglycerides

Researchers found that 4% of those with very low triglycerides had rare mutations in ANGPTL3, ANGPTL5, and ANGPTL6 genes. These loss-of-function mutations led to the devlopment of ANGPTL3 inhibitors, which significantly reduce triglyceride levels and offer a new therpeutic option for lipid disorders.

A Biomarker for Heart Disease

Using a sensitive assay, researchers detected cardiac troponin T (cTNT) in 25% of participants. Elevated cTNT levels were linked to structural heart abnormalities and an increased cardiovascular risk. This biomarker is now used in individuals at higher risk for heart disease and related complications.

Location of Fat Tied to Diabetes

Advanced imaging revealed that fat stored around internal organs – rather than under the skin or in hips and thighs – is more strongly linked to diabetes risk. The discovery shifted focus from total body fat to fat distribution as a key factor in metabolic disease development and prevention.

When Good Cholesterol Does its Job

The DHS showed that HDL's ability to remove cholesterol from immune cells – its "eflux capacity" – is more important than HDL levels alone. Higher efflux capacity was associated with fewer cardiovascular events, highlighting HDL function as a better predictor of heart health than quantity.

Related Publications

DHS-Informed Investigators

Timeline

2000

A team of physicians at UT Southwestern receives a $24 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to launch the Dallas Heart Study (DHS), aimed at collecting comprehensive data on the cardiovascular and metabolic health of a cross-section of Dallas residents.
2002

Enrollment concludes with 6,101 participants from ethnically diverse backgrounds in Dallas County. In-clinic tests and imaging are conducted.
2005

The DHS expands into a longitudinal study with continued support from the Reynolds Foundation and additional donors. Planning begins for the second phase of testing.
2006

Drs. Helen Hobbs and Jonathan Cohen use DHS data to identify mutations in the PCSK9 gene as a driver of low cholesterol. This discovery paves the way for a new class of cholesterol-lowering medications.
2007-2009

The second phase of in-clinic testing and imaging is conducted.
2010

James de Lemos, M.D., leverages DHS data to identify troponin T levels as a general marker for structural heart disease and overall mortality risk. A blood test for troponin T is now available for early detection of heart disease.
2018

Drs. Hobbs and Cohen identify variants in the PNPLA3 gene as a genetic cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Their research also reveals that obesity can significantly amplify this genetic risk.
2020

The study expands its focus to include aging-related factors affecting heart and brain health with aging. This new phase, renamed the Dallas Hearts and Minds Study (DHMS), aims to explore how various risk factors influence healthy aging and the ability to maintain physical and cognitive function over time.
2022

Amil Shah, M.D., an international expert in heart disease research, is recruited from Harvard University to be lead the DHMS as its new Director.
2024

The DHMS completes enrollment for its third phase, with 1,500 participants joining the study.