New research shows that individuals with type A blood may have a higher likelihood of experiencing a stroke before the age of 60 compare to those with different blood types. Blood types are determine by specific chemicals find on the surfaces of red blood cells, with the main types being A, B, AB, and O.
A new study publish in 2022 by genomics researchers highlight a significant association between the A1 subgroup gene and early-onset stroke.
This research analyse data from 48 genetic studies involving approximately 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 controls, all age between 18 and 59.
The genome-wide search identified two locations link to an increase risk of early stroke.
One of these locations coincide with the genes responsible for blood type.
Further analysis of specific blood-type genes reveal that individuals with a variation of the A group had a 16% higher risk of stroke before 60.
While those with the O1 blood type had a 12% lower risk.
Despite these findings, researchers said that the additional risk associate with type A blood is minimal, suggesting that enhance vigilance or screening for this group may not be necessary.
Senior author Steven Kittner, a vascular neurologist from the University of Maryland, remark on the unknown factors behind this increase risk.
Steven Kittner speculate that it may relate to blood-clotting factors or proteins involve in clot development.
As the implications of blood type on early stroke risk are intriguing, it’s important to contextualise these results.
In the US, nearly 800,000 strokes occur annually, predominantly affecting individuals aged 65 and over.
The study’s participants were primarily from North America, Europe, Japan, Pakistan, and Australia, with only 35% being of non-European descent, indicating a need for further studies with more diverse populations.
This research also compare individuals who experience a stroke before and after 60.
In the later-onset group, the height risk for those with type A blood diminish, suggesting that early strokes may arise from different mechanisms than those occurring later in life.
Also, individuals with type B blood were found to be approximately 11% more likely to experience a stroke compared to controls, regardless of age.
Previous research has link the genetic region coding for blood type to coronary artery calcification and a higher risk of venous thrombosis.
This study underscores the need for further investigation into the mechanisms behind the increase stroke risk associate with specific blood types, particularly in younger populations.
