Goodyear resident Kristina “Kristy” Nelsen-Bouck, 75, who spend her career throughout the northwest as a school teacher and instructional specialist, has always been relatively healthy. She’s always exercised, she’s not overweight, and she’s always tested low for cholesterol.
But while in her 40’s, Kristy tested for elevated levels of plaque in her arteries. Kristy’s parents passed away from cardiovascular-related health issues: heart attack and stroke.
After moving from Montana to Arizona a few years ago, the educator’s research matched her up with Dr. Tabitha Moe, Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Research Division at HonorHealth Research Institute.
Because of Kristy’s family history, and her own history of plaque build-up in her arteries, Dr. Moe suggested that Kristy be tested to see if she might have elevated levels of a substance in her blood known as lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a).
Risk factor for heart attack and stroke
Lp(a) has emerged as an indicator that may explain why women younger than 55 and men younger than 65 might be at higher risk for both heart attack and stroke. The only way to detect Lp(a) is through a specific blood test, since standard cholesterol panels do not include it.
Elevated Lp(a) promotes the build-up of plaque in arteries, which can block blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack. Plaque formation, along with blood clots, can also reduce blood flow to the brain, which can result in a stroke.
Lp(a) has no overt symptoms. And even though an estimated 1 in 5 people have the LPA gene that causes elevated Lp(a), most patients aren’t tested for LP(a) since, until recently, this genetic condition had no treatment.
Test indicates elevated Lp(a)
Kristy’s test in October 2025 showed elevated Lp(a), prompting Dr. Moe to enroll Kristy in Amgen’s OCEAN(a) clinical trial to see if injections of a drug called olpasiran could help prevent heart attack and stroke.
Kristy’s participation in the study could last as many as 5 years. So far, because of the double-blind nature of the trial, Kristy has no idea if her Lp(a) levels have changed; whether she received the drug or a placebo. However, her prognosis is rated “Good.”
Kristy said she is happy to participate in the trial, not only for herself, but for how it may help other patients.
For now, she has high hopes for the future and is looking forward to continued travel with her husband, Terry, and visiting their five children and nine grandchildren. The couple just returned from an Alaskan cruise, where they rode ATVs and flew in a seaplane over immense glaciers.
“That was fun,” she said. “I feel pretty lucky for my age to be in as good of health as I am. My husband and I still zipline and stuff like that. We’re old, but we think we’re young.”
Pleased with HonorHealth care
Kristy said she is “very pleased” with the care she has received from Dr. Moe: “I feel like I can participate in my care. I research everything. I’m never going to stop learning. I’ve got a lot of questions and lot of opinions. So, it’s nice to have a doctor who I can participate in my care with. She listens to what I have to say, and will give me her opinion, and can answer my questions.”
As for the Research Institute’s staff: “All the people we’ve come in contact with … they’ve all been fun and kind, and are really good at what they do.”
