HEALTHY HABITS BEAT GENETICS IN STROKE RISK
SIMPLE heart-healthy habits seem to help slash the risk of having a stroke by over 40 percent — even among those with a genetic predisposition, according to experts.
The findings of a longterm study by researchers at Houston’s University of Texas Health Science Center offer hope for a potential screening program, says geneticist Dr. Myriam Fornage.
“Our study confirmed modifying lifestyle risk factors can offset a genetic risk of stroke,” she explains. “We can use genetic information to determine who is at higher risk and encourage them to adopt a healthy cardiovascular lifestyle to lower that risk and live a longer, healthier life.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year approximately 800,000 Americans experience a stroke and 137,000 will die from the condition.
The UTHealth team followed 11,568 middle-aged adults in the U.S. for an average of 28 years. Participants were each given a polygenic risk score — a genetic map of their chance of suffering a stroke — based on their DNA.
Those with the lowest score had a 9.6 percent lifetime risk of stroke, those with an intermediate score had a 13.8 percent risk, but those with a high score faced a 23.2 percent risk. Researchers then checked how well the subjects adhered to seven goals — maintaining a good diet, exercising, not smoking, losing excess weight, managing blood pressure, reducing blood sugar and controlling cholesterol levels. They found people who engaged in cardiovascularpositive lifestyles — regardless of their genetic score — saw significant reductions in their stroke risk!
However, participants with high polygenic ratings, but excellent heart-healthy habits, slashed their lifetime stroke risk by 43 percent!
“This is a first step in identifying people at higher risk and in motivating everyone to make lifestyle changes for cardiovascular disease prevention,” says Fornage.
“This study shows us the possibilities for the future.”