Part #1:
Discussion question: What impact does genetics play in stroke healing and risk? Are certain genetic markers linked with greater risk or improved prognosis?
There are many genetic markers linked to increased risk of ischemic stroke and Yasmin mentioned a few of the important ones in her presentation. However, the PITX2 allele is another important one that has been and is currently being heavily researched. This is due to the fact that genetic polymorphisms in the PITX2 gene have been linked to an increased risk of stroke in individuals with atrial fibrillation. This gene provides instructions for making pituitary homeobox 2 that is involved in the development and function of the heart and other organs. In the heart in particular, PITX2 helps regulate the activity of cardiac cells and maintain normal heart rhythm. However, polymorphisms in the gene can affect the expression or activity of the PITX2 protein, leading to alterations in heart function and rhythm. Individuals with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of stroke, as the irregular heartbeats can lead to the formation of blood clots in the heart, which can then travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Studies have shown that genetic variations in the PITX2 gene may increase the risk of stroke in individuals with AF by promoting the formation of blood clots. According to various studies including Zhao et al. 2022 study assessing PITX2 variations in healthy individuals and stroke patients, they found that there were four single nucleotide polymorphisms among the groups. However, there was one in particular that was significantly higher in the stroke patient group: rs6817105. This study also shows the genetic polymorphisms in PITX2 associated with age and gender as well which is very interesting so if you find that interesting, you should definitely read this article!
What other genetic polymorphisms have you come across in your research that could play a significant role in increased likelihood of stroke?
Reference:
Zhao, W., Hu, X., Hao, J., Guo, L., Zhang, W., Liu, J., Jin, T., Gao, D., & Zhi, J. (2022). Effect of pitx2 genetic variants on the susceptibility to stroke in the Chinese Han population. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 98, 105201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105201
Part #2:
In regards to Stroke epidemiology- are there any patterns in racial and ethnic groups or socio-economic backgrounds associated with the prevalence of stroke in patients?
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