Why is stroke so deadly for people of African descent?

Date:
August 3, 2020
Source:
University of Virginia Health System
Summary:
An international team of scientists has completed the largest
analysis of stroke-risk genes ever undertaken in people of African
descent.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== 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."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
University_of_Virginia_Health_System. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Keith L. Keene, Hyacinth I. Hyacinth, Joshua C. Bis, Steven
J. Kittner,
Braxton D. Mitchell, Yu-Ching Cheng, Guillaume Pare, Michael Chong,
Martin O'Donnell, James F. Meschia, Wei-Min Chen, Miche`le M. Sale,
Stephen S. Rich, Mike A. Nalls, Alan B. Zonderman, Michele K. Evans,
James G. Wilson, Adolfo Correa, Hugh S. Markus, Matthew Traylor,
Cathryn M. Lewis, Cara L. Carty, Alexander Reiner, Jeff Haessler,
Carl D.

Langefeld, Rebecca Gottesman, Thomas H. Mosley, Daniel Woo,
Kristine Yaffe, YongMei Liu, William T. Longstreth, Bruce
M. Psaty, Charles Kooperberg, Leslie A. Lange, Ralph Sacco,
Tatjana Rundek, Jin-Moo Lee, Carlos Cruchaga, Karen L. Furie,
Donna K. Arnett, Oscar R. Benavente, Raji P. Grewal, Leema Reddy
Peddareddygari, Martin Dichgans, Rainer Malik, Bradford B. Worrall,
Myriam Fornage. Genome-Wide Association Study Meta-Analysis
of Stroke in 22 000 Individuals of African Descent Identifies
Novel Associations With Stroke. Stroke, 2020; 51 (8): 2454 DOI:
10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029123 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200803120203.htm

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