Blood type most at risk for stroke at age 60 and older revealed

People with a certain blood type may have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke before the age of 60 compared to those with other blood types, according to research published in Neurology.

A 2022 study by genomics researchers, reported by Oloygeia.gr, identified a clear link between the A1 subgroup gene and early stroke.

The researchers analyzed data from 48 genetic studies, encompassing approximately 17,000 individuals who had suffered a stroke and nearly 600,000 who had not. All participants were between the ages of 18 and 59.

‘We don’t know why blood type A has a higher risk'

A genome-wide search revealed two genetic factors strongly associated with stroke risk. One was linked to blood type genes. Further analysis showed that individuals with a blood type A variant were 16% more likely to have a stroke before age 60 compared to those with other blood types. Conversely, individuals with the gene for blood type O1 had a 12% lower risk.

However, the researchers emphasized that the increased stroke risk for blood type A carriers is relatively small, meaning additional screening or preventive measures are unnecessary for this group.

“We still don’t know why blood type A is associated with a higher risk,” said study author and vascular neurologist Steven Kittner of the University of Maryland. “But it likely relates to blood clotting factors, such as platelets, the cells lining blood vessels, and other circulating proteins involved in clot formation,” he added.

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Original article written for HuffPost, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.