Gene variants 'could increase risk of aneurysm brain injury'RSS Feed

Three gene variants have been identified that could raise the risk of brain injury resulting from an aneurysm.

Smoking is the biggest risk factor for a brain aneurysm, researchers working with the American Stroke Association have found.

The risk is five times higher among people with specific gene variations that smoke, according to the study.

Aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel in the brain balloons out, creating a risk of rupture and threaten the life of the sufferer.

Study author and chair of the department of neurology at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute Joseph Broderick explained: "Like putting a match to kindling, smoking greatly increases the likelihood of a ruptured aneurysm in people with a genetic susceptibility."

However, he warned: "These results tell us the approximate location of the risk-inducing gene on the chromosomes but does not identify the exact gene."

The findings follow the development of a new analytics technology by the Mayo Clinic and IBM, which has been proven to detect aneurysms with a 95 per cent accuracy rate.

Serious Law, award winning acquired brain injury law firm

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