An elevated risk of stroke has been related to a genetic area previously associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer′s disease in African Americans. According to a recent study published in the journal Nature, the frequency of this genetic area known as COBL is also thought to be higher in people with neurological diseases in south Asians, mainly Indian patients.

According to Dr. Kameshwar Prasad, former head of neurology at AIIMS and current director of Rajendra Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, the research reveals that having COBL raises the risk of stroke in south Asians.

The study involved 4,088 individuals comprising of 1,609 stroke cases and 2,479 controls. This investigation helped to identify 89 genetic areas, 61 of which were newly discovered loci for stroke and 28 of which were already known.

Identifying these genetic areas may open the door to more focused pharmacological research that will likely be more successful in treating particular populations, such as south Asians. The neurologist added that it can be used to anticipate strokes and aid in creating specific treatments for the condition.

In India, there were 1.29 million incidents of stroke in 2019, with 6, 99, 000 stroke-related deaths. Mechanical removal of the clot or chemical dissolving of the clot is the current treatment. The "one size fits all" tenet also governs prevention.

Finding the genes that cause stroke in our community will make it possible to pinpoint the high-risk individuals, and gene-neutralizing medicine may provide focused treatment and prevention.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/study-nails-genetic-region-linked-to-strokes-in-indians/94629779)