heART mATTRs
There are two main types of ATTR-CM: hereditary (variant) ATTR, caused by a change in the TTR gene passed down in families, and wild-type ATTR, which happens with aging and is not inherited.
https://amyloidosis.org/wild-type/
https://hfsa.org/father-daughter-connection-between-genetics-and-hereditary-attr-cm
I am creating a heart collage every day (or sharing an older collage featuring hearts) this March in honor of Amyloidosis Awareness Month because I love hearts—and this month, I wanted to use my art practice as a form of advocacy. The series is entitled “heART mATTRs” Each heart I create represents the thousands of people living with amyloidosis, and especially those affected by a specific type called transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, or ATTR-CM.
ATTR-CM is a rare and serious condition where a protein called transthyretin becomes unstable, misfolds, and builds up as amyloid in the heart. Over time, these amyloid deposits make the heart stiff, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, leg swelling, and an irregular heartbeat. What’s often most challenging is that these signs can look just like other common heart conditions, meaning ATTR-CM is frequently missed or diagnosed too late.
But awareness is changing that. Thanks to ongoing research, education, and advocacy, more people are recognizing the “red flags” of cardiac amyloidosis and asking the right questions. Early detection can make a real difference—there are now treatments that help stabilize this protein and slow disease progression.
Amyloidosis Awareness Month is about shining light on a condition that too often lives in the shadows. It’s about listening to patients’ stories, empowering caregivers, and reminding people that even rare diseases deserve recognition and research.
So this month, as I share a new heart collage each day, I hope it sparks conversation, compassion, and curiosity—because awareness truly is the first step toward positively impacting one heart at a time.
#heARTmATTRs #ArtCuresAll #AttrCM #Amyloidosis #AmyloidosisAwareness
Collage by Heather Polk, 2020
