• Get in Touch
  • Get in Touch with our Support!
  • Privacy Policy
Monday, February 6, 2023
OvaNewsBlast.com
  • Home
  • News
  • African Americans
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • African Americans
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
OvaNewsBlast.com
No Result
View All Result

Gene Variants Help Explain Why People of African Descent Have Far Higher Stroke Risk

August 4, 2020
in Technology
Reading Time: 3min read
A A
Gene Variants Help Explain Why People of African Descent Have Far Higher Stroke Risk
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share ShareShareShareShareShare

African-Americans have up to three times the risk of dying from strokes as people of European descent, yet there has been little investigation of if and how genetic variants contribute to their elevated stroke risk. Until now.

A large international team of scientists has completed the largest analysis of stroke-risk genes ever undertaken in individuals of African descent. The new study examined the genomes of more than 22,000 people of African ancestry, identifying important genetic contributors to stroke risk. These findings will help doctors better understand stroke risk, identify those at high risk and prevent the debilitating condition.

“Given the undue burden that people of African ancestry endure from stroke and other cerebrovascular disease, the lack of investigation of risk factors in this group has been a substantial gap,” said researcher Bradford B. Worrall, MD, a neurologist at UVA Health. “Our work is an important step toward filling that gap, albeit with much more work to be done. These findings will provide greater insight into ethnic-specific and global risk factors to reduce the second leading cause of death worldwide.”

Understanding Stroke Risk

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. But strokes strike African-Americans more often and at younger ages than people of European descent. In addition, African-Americans who survive strokes often face greater disability.

Family history is a major risk factor for stroke, suggesting our genes play a significant role in our stroke risk. But most genetic stroke studies, until now, have primarily focused on people of European descent. And the results have not always held true in African-Americans.

The new meta-analysis comes from the Consortium of Minority Population genome-wide Association Studies of Stroke (COMPASS). The researchers revisited previous studies to identify genetic risk factors specific to people of African descent. In total, they examined the genomes of 3,734 people who had suffered strokes and more than 18,000 who had not.

The researchers discovered that a common variation near the HNF1A gene was strongly associated with increased stroke risk in those of African ancestry. The gene previously has been associated to both stroke and cardiovascular disease.

While that variant had the strongest link to stroke risk, the researchers identified 29 other variants that also appear likely to influence stroke risk.

The variants occur at 24 different locations on our chromosomes. Sixteen of the “loci,” as the locations are known, appeared also to influence stroke risk in other populations, the researchers report.

“Studies of this nature are critical given the paucity of genetic studies focused on people of African descent and other minority populations and the substantial health disparities related to stroke in these groups,” said Keith Keene, PhD, a former UVA researcher and frequent collaborator of Worrall’s who now leads the Center for Health Disparities at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine. “Furthermore, we increasingly recognize the power of looking at genetic risk factors across different race ethnic groups, known as transethnic analyses, for unlocking the underlying biology of diseases like stroke. If we understand the biology, we can develop new treatment and prevention strategies.”

In a paper outlining their findings, the researchers note the importance of such studies in understanding stroke risk among minorities. These studies have “huge potential to provide insight into the mechanisms underlying stroke disparities,” the researchers write. “Our study identified novel associations for stroke that might not otherwise be detected in primarily European cohort studies. Collectively, this highlights the critical nature and importance of genetic studies in a more diverse population with a high stroke burden.”

Reference: Keene Keith L., Hyacinth Hyacinth I., Bis Joshua C., Kittner Steven J., Mitchell Braxton D., Cheng Yu-Ching, Pare Guillaume, Chong Michael, O’Donnell Martin, Meschia James F., Chen Wei-Min, Sale Michèle M., Rich Stephen S., Nalls Mike A., Zonderman Alan B., Evans Michele K., Wilson James G., Correa Adolfo, Markus Hugh S., … null null. (2020). Genome-Wide Association Study Meta-Analysis of Stroke in 22 000 Individuals of African Descent Identifies Novel Associations With Stroke. Stroke, 51(8), 2454–2463. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029123

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.



Credit: Source link

ShareTweetSendSharePinShare
Previous Post

Two Black Women in Hollywood Reveal the Mindset For Designing a Life You Love and the Power of Sisterhood

Next Post

Daily Business Report-Aug. 4, 2020, San Diego Metro Magazine

Next Post
Daily Business Report-Aug. 4, 2020, San Diego Metro Magazine

Daily Business Report-Aug. 4, 2020, San Diego Metro Magazine

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
The ABC’s of 2022 in Maryland and beyond: The news year remembered

The ABC’s of 2022 in Maryland and beyond: The news year remembered

December 20, 2022
One Person Killed in Twin Cities Area Rollover Crash

One Person Killed in Twin Cities Area Rollover Crash

May 17, 2022
Newark, NJ man charged with March 31 double vehicular homicide

Newark, NJ man charged with March 31 double vehicular homicide

April 25, 2022
Josh Allen Chugs Beer at After Hitting Home Run [WATCH]

Josh Allen Chugs Beer at After Hitting Home Run [WATCH]

May 18, 2022
Jonathan Zimmerman: What colleges can learn from Georgetown Day School’s embrace of multiple viewpoints

Jonathan Zimmerman: What colleges can learn from Georgetown Day School’s embrace of multiple viewpoints

April 1, 2022
Proud Dad Celebrates Son Who Became a Pilot After 11 Years of Studying

Proud Dad Celebrates Son Who Became a Pilot After 11 Years of Studying

February 6, 2023
Black Woman Makes History, Wins First Place in Ms. Wheelchair 2023 Pageant

Black Woman Makes History, Wins First Place in Ms. Wheelchair 2023 Pageant

February 6, 2023
MFAH Gordan Parks’ Stokely Carmichael and Black Power Exhibit

MFAH Gordan Parks’ Stokely Carmichael and Black Power Exhibit

February 5, 2023
Xavier Houston Alumni Mardi Gras Gala

Xavier Houston Alumni Mardi Gras Gala

February 5, 2023
Emmett Jay Scott

Emmett Jay Scott

February 5, 2023

Recent News

JYC to sing Redemption Songs in historic Washington National Cathedral | Entertainment

JYC to sing Redemption Songs in historic Washington National Cathedral | Entertainment

February 1, 2023
Baltimore couple opens Beauty Plus in new Northwood Commons shopping center

Baltimore couple opens Beauty Plus in new Northwood Commons shopping center

February 2, 2023
Salango wins Democratic nomination for governor | News, Sports, Jobs

Mid-Ohio Valley historian Cynthia Buskirk dies | News, Sports, Jobs

February 2, 2023
Top 10 Common Issues With Hybrid Technology

Top 10 Common Issues With Hybrid Technology

January 31, 2023
OvaNewsBlast.com

A reliable source for African American news, from a different lens. Yours. News about us, by us.

Follow Us

Recent News

Proud Dad Celebrates Son Who Became a Pilot After 11 Years of Studying

Proud Dad Celebrates Son Who Became a Pilot After 11 Years of Studying

February 6, 2023
Black Woman Makes History, Wins First Place in Ms. Wheelchair 2023 Pageant

Black Woman Makes History, Wins First Place in Ms. Wheelchair 2023 Pageant

February 6, 2023

Topics to cover !

  • African Americans
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Get in Touch
  • Get in Touch with our Support!
  • Privacy Policy

© 2020 ovanewsblast.com - All rights reserved!   Download Our App   Read News on odbnewsblast.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • African Americans
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment

© 2020 ovanewsblast.com - All rights reserved!   Download Our App   Read News on odbnewsblast.com