One of the most common genetic defects passed on through families significantly increases a person's chance of having a stroke, according to a study published in the Neurology, March 27, 2007.

"This type of gene has previously been associated with brain diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and cerebrovascular disease, but this is the first time we've been able to determine this gene predicts such a significant increased risk of stroke," said study author Borge G. Nordestgaard, MD, DMSc, with Herlev University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Labels: alzheimer's, Parkinson disease, stroke