Killing 6 million people each year, stroke is a leading cause of death and paralysis. 80% of strokes are classified as ischemic , which makes the discussed HDAC9 gene an extremely important find. This finding can lead to new methods of screening, prevention, and possible ways to treat stroke victims. Not only can this save lives of individuals, it can also save the active lives of possible survivors. Although the HDAC9 gene has been linked to ischemic strokes, it should be noted that this gene is not associated with other various cases of strokes. Even though ischemic strokes are most common, not all strokes are caused by the same pathways. In the same regards to cancer, one type of stroke is different from the next.
Treating those suffering strokes or preventing a stroke is most needed nowadays. Strokes have become much more common in our coutry, and this gene can be a scare. Prevention is most needed in order to help save lives.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really interesting article! I wrote about an article with a similar theme in that the presence of a specific type of gut bacteria in a patient correlated with a high risk for diabetes of that individual. I agree with you in that early screening for such a gene could diagnose high-risk individuals and be invaluable as said individuals could then be educated about the risks, symptoms, and lifestyle choices that could potentially save their life. As the prevalence of strokes continue to rise, additional research into the HDAC9 is a must for the medical and scientific communities. Another article I read, link included below, discussed how inhibition of the HDAC9 gene resulted in increased T-regulatory cell function and prevented colitis in mice. Very interesting article!
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19879272