Source: University of Maryland A person’s blood type may be linked to their risk of suffering an early stroke, according to a new meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). The findings were published today in the journal Neurology. The meta-analysis included all available data from genetic studies focusing on ischemic strokes, which are caused by obstruction of blood flow to the brain, occurring in younger adults under the age of 60. “The number of people with premature strokes is increasing. These people are more likely to die from the life-threatening event, and survivors may face decades of disability. However, there is little research into the causes of early strokes,” said study co-principal investigator Steven J. Kittner, MD, MPH, professor of neurology at UMSOM and a neurologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He and his colleagues conducted the study by conducting a meta-analysis of 48 studies on genetics and ischemic stroke that included 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy controls who had never had a stroke. They then looked at all the chromosomes collected to identify genetic variants associated with a stroke and found a link between early-onset stroke—occurring before the age of 60—and the region of the chromosome that includes the gene that determines if a blood type is A, AB. , B or O. The study found that people with an early stroke were more likely to have blood type A and less likely to have blood type O (the most common blood type) – compared to people with a late stroke and people who never had a stroke. Both early and late stroke were also more likely to have type B blood compared to controls. After adjusting for gender and other factors, the researchers found that those with blood type A had a 16 percent higher risk of early stroke than people with other blood types. Those with blood type O had a 12 percent lower risk of having a stroke compared to people with other blood types. “Our meta-analysis looked at people’s genetic profiles and found associations between blood type and the risk of early-onset stroke. The association of blood type with later stroke was much weaker than we found with early stroke,” said study co-principal investigator Braxton D. Mitchell, PhD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at UMSOM. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The image is public “We still don’t know why blood type A would confer a higher risk, but it probably has to do with blood clotting factors such as platelets and cells that line blood vessels as well as other circulating proteins. role in the development of blood clots,” Dr. Kittner said. Previous studies suggest that those with blood type A have a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots in the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis. See also “We clearly need more follow-up studies to elucidate the mechanisms of increased stroke risk,” he added. Besides Dr. Kittner and Dr. Mitchell, UMSOM faculty participating in this study included Huichun Xu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Patrick F. McArdle, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Timothy O’Connor, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. James A. Perry, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine. Kathleen A. Ryan, MPH, MS, statistician; John W. Cole, MD, Professor of Neurology. Marc C. Hochberg, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine. O. Colin Stine, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health. and Charles C. Hong, MD, PhD, Melvin Sharocky MD Professor of Medicine. A limitation of the study was the relative lack of diversity among participants. The data came from the Early Onset Stroke Consortium, a collaboration of 48 different studies in North America, Europe, Japan, Pakistan and Australia. About 35 percent of the participants were of non-European origin. “This study raises an important question that warrants deeper investigation into how genetically predetermined blood type may play a role in early stroke risk,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore and John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine. “It points to the urgent need to find new ways to prevent these potentially devastating events in younger adults.” Funding: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Researchers from more than 50 institutions around the world were joint authors of this study.

About this stroke research

Author: Deborah KotzSource: University of MarylandContact: Deborah Kotz – University of MarylandImage: Image is public domain Original research: Findings will appear in Neurology


title: “Your Blood Type Could Predict Your Risk Of Stroke Before Age 60 Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-18” author: “Steven Hash”


Source: University of Maryland A person’s blood type may be linked to their risk of suffering an early stroke, according to a new meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). The findings were published today in the journal Neurology. The meta-analysis included all available data from genetic studies focusing on ischemic strokes, which are caused by obstruction of blood flow to the brain, occurring in younger adults under the age of 60. “The number of people with premature strokes is increasing. These people are more likely to die from the life-threatening event, and survivors may face decades of disability. However, there is little research into the causes of early strokes,” said study co-principal investigator Steven J. Kittner, MD, MPH, professor of neurology at UMSOM and a neurologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He and his colleagues conducted the study by conducting a meta-analysis of 48 studies on genetics and ischemic stroke that included 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy controls who had never had a stroke. They then looked at all the chromosomes collected to identify genetic variants associated with a stroke and found a link between early-onset stroke—occurring before the age of 60—and the region of the chromosome that includes the gene that determines if a blood type is A, AB. , B or O. The study found that people with an early stroke were more likely to have blood type A and less likely to have blood type O (the most common blood type) – compared to people with a late stroke and people who never had a stroke. Both early and late stroke were also more likely to have type B blood compared to controls. After adjusting for gender and other factors, the researchers found that those with blood type A had a 16 percent higher risk of early stroke than people with other blood types. Those with blood type O had a 12 percent lower risk of having a stroke compared to people with other blood types. “Our meta-analysis looked at people’s genetic profiles and found associations between blood type and the risk of early-onset stroke. The association of blood type with later stroke was much weaker than we found with early stroke,” said study co-principal investigator Braxton D. Mitchell, PhD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at UMSOM. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The image is public “We still don’t know why blood type A would confer a higher risk, but it probably has to do with blood clotting factors such as platelets and cells that line blood vessels as well as other circulating proteins. role in the development of blood clots,” Dr. Kittner said. Previous studies suggest that those with blood type A have a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots in the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis. See also “We clearly need more follow-up studies to elucidate the mechanisms of increased stroke risk,” he added. Besides Dr. Kittner and Dr. Mitchell, UMSOM faculty participating in this study included Huichun Xu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Patrick F. McArdle, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Timothy O’Connor, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. James A. Perry, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine. Kathleen A. Ryan, MPH, MS, statistician; John W. Cole, MD, Professor of Neurology. Marc C. Hochberg, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine. O. Colin Stine, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health. and Charles C. Hong, MD, PhD, Melvin Sharocky MD Professor of Medicine. A limitation of the study was the relative lack of diversity among participants. The data came from the Early Onset Stroke Consortium, a collaboration of 48 different studies in North America, Europe, Japan, Pakistan and Australia. About 35 percent of the participants were of non-European origin. “This study raises an important question that warrants deeper investigation into how genetically predetermined blood type may play a role in early stroke risk,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore and John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine. “It points to the urgent need to find new ways to prevent these potentially devastating events in younger adults.” Funding: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Researchers from more than 50 institutions around the world were joint authors of this study.

About this stroke research

Author: Deborah KotzSource: University of MarylandContact: Deborah Kotz – University of MarylandImage: Image is public domain Original research: Findings will appear in Neurology


title: “Your Blood Type Could Predict Your Risk Of Stroke Before Age 60 Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Tommy Billingsley”


Source: University of Maryland A person’s blood type may be linked to their risk of suffering an early stroke, according to a new meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). The findings were published today in the journal Neurology. The meta-analysis included all available data from genetic studies focusing on ischemic strokes, which are caused by obstruction of blood flow to the brain, occurring in younger adults under the age of 60. “The number of people with premature strokes is increasing. These people are more likely to die from the life-threatening event, and survivors may face decades of disability. However, there is little research into the causes of early strokes,” said study co-principal investigator Steven J. Kittner, MD, MPH, professor of neurology at UMSOM and a neurologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He and his colleagues conducted the study by conducting a meta-analysis of 48 studies on genetics and ischemic stroke that included 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy controls who had never had a stroke. They then looked at all the chromosomes collected to identify genetic variants associated with a stroke and found a link between early-onset stroke—occurring before the age of 60—and the region of the chromosome that includes the gene that determines if a blood type is A, AB. , B or O. The study found that people with an early stroke were more likely to have blood type A and less likely to have blood type O (the most common blood type) – compared to people with a late stroke and people who never had a stroke. Both early and late stroke were also more likely to have type B blood compared to controls. After adjusting for gender and other factors, the researchers found that those with blood type A had a 16 percent higher risk of early stroke than people with other blood types. Those with blood type O had a 12 percent lower risk of having a stroke compared to people with other blood types. “Our meta-analysis looked at people’s genetic profiles and found associations between blood type and the risk of early-onset stroke. The association of blood type with later stroke was much weaker than we found with early stroke,” said study co-principal investigator Braxton D. Mitchell, PhD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at UMSOM. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The image is public “We still don’t know why blood type A would confer a higher risk, but it probably has to do with blood clotting factors such as platelets and cells that line blood vessels as well as other circulating proteins. role in the development of blood clots,” Dr. Kittner said. Previous studies suggest that those with blood type A have a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots in the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis. See also “We clearly need more follow-up studies to elucidate the mechanisms of increased stroke risk,” he added. Besides Dr. Kittner and Dr. Mitchell, UMSOM faculty participating in this study included Huichun Xu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Patrick F. McArdle, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Timothy O’Connor, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. James A. Perry, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine. Kathleen A. Ryan, MPH, MS, statistician; John W. Cole, MD, Professor of Neurology. Marc C. Hochberg, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine. O. Colin Stine, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health. and Charles C. Hong, MD, PhD, Melvin Sharocky MD Professor of Medicine. A limitation of the study was the relative lack of diversity among participants. The data came from the Early Onset Stroke Consortium, a collaboration of 48 different studies in North America, Europe, Japan, Pakistan and Australia. About 35 percent of the participants were of non-European origin. “This study raises an important question that warrants deeper investigation into how genetically predetermined blood type may play a role in early stroke risk,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore and John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine. “It points to the urgent need to find new ways to prevent these potentially devastating events in younger adults.” Funding: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Researchers from more than 50 institutions around the world were joint authors of this study.

About this stroke research

Author: Deborah KotzSource: University of MarylandContact: Deborah Kotz – University of MarylandImage: Image is public domain Original research: Findings will appear in Neurology


title: “Your Blood Type Could Predict Your Risk Of Stroke Before Age 60 Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-14” author: “Linda Hernandez”


Source: University of Maryland A person’s blood type may be linked to their risk of suffering an early stroke, according to a new meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). The findings were published today in the journal Neurology. The meta-analysis included all available data from genetic studies focusing on ischemic strokes, which are caused by obstruction of blood flow to the brain, occurring in younger adults under the age of 60. “The number of people with premature strokes is increasing. These people are more likely to die from the life-threatening event, and survivors may face decades of disability. However, there is little research into the causes of early strokes,” said study co-principal investigator Steven J. Kittner, MD, MPH, professor of neurology at UMSOM and a neurologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He and his colleagues conducted the study by conducting a meta-analysis of 48 studies on genetics and ischemic stroke that included 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy controls who had never had a stroke. They then looked at all the chromosomes collected to identify genetic variants associated with a stroke and found a link between early-onset stroke—occurring before the age of 60—and the region of the chromosome that includes the gene that determines if a blood type is A, AB. , B or O. The study found that people with an early stroke were more likely to have blood type A and less likely to have blood type O (the most common blood type) – compared to people with a late stroke and people who never had a stroke. Both early and late stroke were also more likely to have type B blood compared to controls. After adjusting for gender and other factors, the researchers found that those with blood type A had a 16 percent higher risk of early stroke than people with other blood types. Those with blood type O had a 12 percent lower risk of having a stroke compared to people with other blood types. “Our meta-analysis looked at people’s genetic profiles and found associations between blood type and the risk of early-onset stroke. The association of blood type with later stroke was much weaker than we found with early stroke,” said study co-principal investigator Braxton D. Mitchell, PhD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at UMSOM. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The researchers stressed that the increased risk was very modest and that those with blood type A should not worry about early stroke or participate in additional screening or medical tests based on this finding. The image is public “We still don’t know why blood type A would confer a higher risk, but it probably has to do with blood clotting factors such as platelets and cells that line blood vessels as well as other circulating proteins. role in the development of blood clots,” Dr. Kittner said. Previous studies suggest that those with blood type A have a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots in the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis. See also “We clearly need more follow-up studies to elucidate the mechanisms of increased stroke risk,” he added. Besides Dr. Kittner and Dr. Mitchell, UMSOM faculty participating in this study included Huichun Xu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Patrick F. McArdle, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Timothy O’Connor, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine. James A. Perry, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine. Kathleen A. Ryan, MPH, MS, statistician; John W. Cole, MD, Professor of Neurology. Marc C. Hochberg, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine. O. Colin Stine, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health. and Charles C. Hong, MD, PhD, Melvin Sharocky MD Professor of Medicine. A limitation of the study was the relative lack of diversity among participants. The data came from the Early Onset Stroke Consortium, a collaboration of 48 different studies in North America, Europe, Japan, Pakistan and Australia. About 35 percent of the participants were of non-European origin. “This study raises an important question that warrants deeper investigation into how genetically predetermined blood type may play a role in early stroke risk,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore and John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine. “It points to the urgent need to find new ways to prevent these potentially devastating events in younger adults.” Funding: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Researchers from more than 50 institutions around the world were joint authors of this study.

About this stroke research

Author: Deborah KotzSource: University of MarylandContact: Deborah Kotz – University of MarylandImage: Image is public domain Original research: Findings will appear in Neurology