A King’s College London study into the link between genes and blood clots may help reduce the number of people who sustain damage to brain cells due to strokes.
The study was undertaken in three parts. Firstly, scientists conducted research to find which genetic variants were linked to coagulation (blood clotting), secondly they looked at stoke and non-stroke patients all over Europe to find which mutation on the ABO gene was most connected to stokes, and thirdly they further examined the association between that gene and ‘large vessel’ strokes.
The research team found that this specific genetic mutation (variant) was linked to large vessel strokes.
The discovery of a gene which makes an individual predisposed to suffering a large vessel stroke is important, since these types of stokes tend to be more serious and can cause extensive brain damage, in comparison to a small vessel stroke which usually causes much less harm.
One of the professionals involved in the study states that these findings could lead to better treatments, and help lower some people’s risk of suffering a stroke, and damage to their brain, in the future.
