Scientists discovered a new set of genes linked to increased risk for stroke and dementia. This set included a new gene called FOXF2, which is associated with increased risk of a common type of stroke due to small vessel disease. Findings can help researchers better understand the conditions and find new ways for prevention and treatment.
A team of researchers from the University of Bordeaux and the Boston University School of Medicine studied almost 85,000 individuals whose data were collected between 1948 and 2013. Out of this group, approximately 4,300 suffered a stroke.
They conducted a DNA analysis to understand how all the people who had a stroke differ from the people who didn't suffer the condition. They found seven genes linked to stroke and a new gene associated with the increased risk for all types of the said condition.
Gene FOXF2 appeared to increase the risk of developing stroke due to small vessel disease in the brain, which is a common type of stroke.
Study investigator Dr. Sudha Seshadri said that for every diagnosed stroke with apparent symptoms, there are five silent ones. Seshadri called these the "covert strokes" which can be seen on an MRI scan.
"More than 80 percent of these undiagnosed strokes are due to small vessel disease," said Seshadri, also a neurology professor at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Apart from the increased stroke risk, the small vessel disease was also linked to dementia, depression, glaucoma, and walking problems. The discovery of the FOXF2 can also help better understand the said conditions.
"Unraveling the mechanisms of small vessel disease is essential for the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies for this major cause of stroke," added Seshadri.
The team noted that no past studies had identified a specific gene linked to this common type of stroke. Many of the genes in past studies were associated with atherosclerosis and risk factors linked to other stroke types.
The research was published in the Lancet Neurology journal on April 7.
