Your blood type may predict risk of stroke before 60
Scientists have found a way to predict the risk of stroke among individuals based on their blood type. A team from the University of Maryland published a study in the journal Neurology that links a person's blood type to their risk of early stroke.
The study, which was published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, analysed gene variants associated with a person's blood type and included all the available data from genetic studies that included young adult ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain.
Braxton D. Mitchell, the study author from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore said that non-O blood types have previously been linked to a risk of early stroke. However, the findings of the study showed a stronger link between these blood types with early stroke compared to late stroke.
"Specifically, our meta-analysis suggests that gene variants tied to blood types A and O represent nearly all of those genetically linked with early stroke. People with these gene variants may be more likely to develop blood clots, which can lead to stroke," Braxton D. Mitchell said.
Over 48 studies on genetics and ischemic stroke from North America, Europe and Asia were studied. The studies included 16,927 people, age ranging between 18 and 59, with stroke and 576,353 people who did not have a stroke. Of the ones who had a stroke, 5,825 people had early onset stroke and 9,269 people had late onset stroke. Early onset stroke was defined as an ischemic stroke occurring before age 60 and late onset stroke was older than 60.
People with early stroke were more likely to have blood type A and less likely to have late stroke or without stroke were linked to blood type O. People with early and late stroke were more likely to have blood type B.
The limitation of the study was the diversity of participants, even though 35 per cent of the participants were of non-European ancestry.
Though the work deepens our understanding of "early onset stroke development and changes."
Jennifer Juhl Majersik, University of Utah and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, who wrote the editorial accompanying the study said, "Future research is needed to help develop a more precise understanding of how stroke develops. This could lead to targeted preventative treatments for early onset stroke, which could result in less disability during people's most productive years."
Source : India Today
