Puzzle of Amish children’s deaths solved
The exercise-associated sudden deaths were caused by a gene mutation likely inherited from a common ancestor, say researchers
When a 12-year-old Amish girl suddenly dropped dead while playing, it was the start of a spate of child deaths that stumped doctors and geneticists for years.
During the next 15 years, another 17 Amish children died of sudden unexplained death in young people (SUDY), including three of the girl’s siblings, aged 10, 9 and 3.