Genetic causes stroke risk

A family medical history can identify people with a higher-than-usual chance of having common disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes. These complex disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle choices. A family history also can provide information about the risk of rarer conditions caused by mutations in a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. 

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders associated with lipid metabolism disturbance and atherosclerosis represent major risk factors for dementia (3,25,59). Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of heart disease and stroke in which genetic and environmental factors converge (553). More than 90% of patients older than 70-80 yr with dementia show signs of atherosclerosis in their arteries and a clear cerebrovascular component in their dementia process. It is very likely that pure AD is practically absent in octogenarians, in whom the prevalent diagnosis is vascular or mixed dementia (3,25,59), in which the APOE-4 allele also accumulates (18-20,554). 

Cardiovascular diseases is still responsible as the eardinal eause of death in the technologically advanced and developed countries and also supported by the fact that hypertension places a person on a high risk of heart attacks and strokes. About l/5th of the population suffers from hypertension, the causes of which are not yet fully understood, but various factors for instance genetic history, age, diet, stress and strain and smoking may be involved either fully or partially. While mild hypertension can be arrested by altering the patient s lifestyle, but non-treatment of acute hypertension may ultimately lead to enhanced risk of stroke, kidney failure and impaired vision. 

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