Stroke risk in young people: One blood group is particularly at risk
Created: 09/24/2022, 19:00
By: Laura Knops
Younger people can also suffer a stroke.
A certain blood group can increase the risk.
If parts of the brain are no longer sufficiently supplied with blood and therefore with oxygen, a stroke can occur.
During a cerebral infarction, various areas of the brain lose some or all of their function.
If the stroke is mild, the consequences are only temporary.
In the worst case, however, long-term symptoms of paralysis that extend from the head to the legs, as well as restrictions on central vital functions, can occur.
Although the circulatory disorders in the brain usually only appear in old age, young people can also suffer a stroke.
According to studies, the number of stroke patients affected at a young age has increased significantly in recent years.
Smoking and obesity, but also diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes can increase the risk.
Stroke risk in young people: One blood group is particularly at risk
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around 270,000 people in Germany suffer a stroke every year.
But contrary to what many believe, a cerebral infarction is by no means just a disease of old age.
Around 20 percent of strokes in this country occur before the age of 60.
The causes are usually varied.
In addition to risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, increased alcohol consumption, psychological stress and smoking, the blood group also seems to play a decisive role.
People with a certain blood group are therefore more likely to suffer from a stroke, as researchers at the University of Maryland (USA) have now discovered.
Not only older people are affected by a stroke (symbol image).
© Science Photo Library / Imago
"The number of people with early stroke is increasing," said Steven Kittner, co-author of a study looking at early stroke.
“These people are at greater risk of dying from the life-threatening event, and those who survive may have to live with a disability for decades.
Nevertheless, the causes of early strokes are still poorly understood.”
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Stroke Risk in Young People: Common Disorders
In the current study, the scientists from the Maryland School of Medicine examined around 48 research papers on the topic.
They analyzed the possible connections between various genetic characteristics and the occurrence of a stroke between the ages of 18 and 59.
Overall, the team led by study author Steven Kittner evaluated the data from 16,700 stroke patients and around 616,000 healthy subjects.
The results were published in the journal
Neurology
.
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The scientists found that subjects who suffered a stroke at a younger age were more likely to have blood group A.
People with blood group 0 fell ill significantly less frequently. The difference between the blood groups was so significant that the researchers assume that the risk of stroke is increased by around 16 percent in patients with blood group A.
Those with blood group 0 had a lower risk of developing the disease.
However, the scientists only observed this effect in younger people; the connection could not be established in older stroke patients.
Stroke risk in young people: Various factors play a role
However, it is still unclear why people with blood group O have a lower risk of suffering a stroke.
However, this may have something to do with the so-called blood clotting factors such as platelets and cells that line the blood vessels and other circulating proteins, as study author Steven Kittner explained in a press release.
Researchers have already been able to identify these connections in previous studies.
Further investigations should now uncover the underlying mechanisms.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
