![A Genetic Link Between Stroke and Depression]()
Stroke and depression are major global health problems. Previous epidemiological studies had found a relationship between depressive symptoms and stroke risk, but for the first time a genetic link between the two conditions has been found. A study published in the journal Stroke online on February 8, has found that a genetic risk for Major Depressive Disorder (MMD) is associated with a higher risk of stroke. The study involved nearly 14,000 stroke cases and more than 28,000 controls among people of European and African ancestry. All underwent genetic testing (resulting in a polygenic risk score for MDD) to test whether genetic risk for MMD is associated with stroke risk. Overall, for both ancestries, a higher risk for MMD was associated with higher risk for ischemic (clot-caused) stroke. In particular, the researchers found that a higher risk for MMD was associated with higher risk for the small vessel occlusion subtype of stroke in both those of European and African ancestry. The lead author was Einstein’s Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Ph.D., distinguished university professor emerita of epidemiology & population health.
Posted on: Wednesday, February 28, 2018