Your Blood Type Affects Your Risk of Early Stroke, Scientists Find - ScienceAlert

In a study published last year, genomics researchers uncovered a clear relationship between the gene for the A1 subgroup and early onset stroke.

Researchers compiled data from 48 genetic studies, which included roughly 17,000 people with a stroke and nearly 600,000 non-stroke controls.

The researchers noted, however, that the additional risk of stroke in people with type A blood is small, so there is no need for extra vigilance or screening in this group.

"We still don't know why blood type A would confer a higher risk," said senior author and vascular neurologist Steven Kittner from the University of Maryland.

While the study findings may seem alarming – that blood type could change early stroke risk – let's put these results into context.

The study also found that people with type B blood were around 11 percent more likely to have a stroke compared to non-stroke controls regardless of their age.