Daijiworld Media Network – Maryland

Maryland, Jul 7: Your blood type could reveal more about your health than you think — even your risk of having a stroke before the age of 60. In a groundbreaking study led by researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), scientists have discovered that certain blood types are linked to a higher risk of early-onset ischemic stroke.

According to the World Health Organisation, stroke affects nearly 15 million people globally each year, killing 5 million and leaving another 5 million permanently disabled. While strokes are commonly associated with old age, early strokes — those occurring before 60 — are on the rise, and their impact can be severe and long-lasting.

The meta-analysis, published in the journal Neurology, examined 48 genetic studies involving over 17,000 early stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy individuals. Researchers found that people with blood type A had a 16% higher risk of early stroke, while those with blood type O had a 12% lower risk.

“People with early strokes are more likely to die or live with disability for decades, yet research on causes has been limited,” said study co-lead Dr. Steven J. Kittner, Professor of Neurology at UMSOM. He noted that this new research could open the door to better prediction and prevention strategies for stroke in younger adults.

The findings pointed specifically to ischemic strokes, which are caused by a blockage in blood flow to the brain and account for 87% of all strokes. Hemorrhagic strokes, caused by bleeding in the brain, were not the focus of this study.

Co-author Dr Braxton D Mitchell emphasized that while the link between blood type and stroke risk is noteworthy, the increased risk is modest, and there’s no need for panic or additional medical testing based solely on blood type.

Experts suspect that the connection may lie in how different blood types affect blood clotting factors, platelets, and proteins involved in clot formation. Notably, earlier research has also tied blood type A to a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis.

“This study raises critical questions about the role of genetically determined blood types in stroke risk. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved,” said Dr Kittner.

As the incidence of early strokes climbs globally, researchers believe this discovery may lead to more targeted strategies for prevention in younger adults — possibly saving lives and improving long-term outcomes.