Advances in the genetics of stroke risk and recovery

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is widely considered a heterogeneous clinical syndrome rather than a single disorder. A large number of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors have been associated with CVD, but even after accounting for these, there remains a large proportion of unexplained individual risk. Although genetic risk has commonly been considered non-modifiable, it is now better understood how environmental influences can modify gene expression as a result of epigenetic phenomena. Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified some genetic risk loci for stroke, many of which are common to CVD in general. It is hoped that a more comprehensive understanding of genetic risk in differing populations will have the potential to improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis and to identify novel therapeutic mechanisms. This in turn could be used to quantify risk of stroke at a young age, integrate with advice on lifestyle choices, and develop opportunities to target preventive treatments