(Press-News.org) Certain genes associated with hypertension affect blood pressure from early in life, and they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease as you get older. However, you can do something about it.
“We are talking about really small differences, so small that they may fall within what is considered normal blood pressure. The problem is that they tend to last your whole life,” says PhD Candidate Karsten Øvretveit at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Public Health and Nursing. He is one of the researchers behind a new study that has looked at the relationship between gene variants and blood pressure in the population.
The study shows that high blood pressure occurs in all age groups and that it is related to hereditary factors.
“We found that genetic factors affect blood pressure from the first years of childhood and throughout your entire life,” says Øvretveit.
Genetic data from large population studies
High blood pressure is the main cause of heart attacks and strokes, and cardiovascular disease is the second most common cause of death in Norway, accounting for 23 per cent of all deaths in 2022.
The direct medical cause of high blood pressure is unknown in many cases, but research shows that our genes play a signifcant role.
“Lifestyle diseases are often caused by a combination of heredity and environment. Diseases are often the result of not only one, but very many genetic variants,” says Øvretveit.
In order to find out how much a person is at risk of high blood pressure, researchers have used genetic data from large population studies. This has helped them develop a genetic risk score, which indicates how much your exact genetic makeup puts you at risk.
Developing genetic risk scores
Put very simply, a certain value is placed on each gene variant, which reflects the extent to which it can affect blood pressure. The variants are then “weighted”, i.e. some genes weigh more heavily than others, and the genetic risk score is then the sum of the genetic effects.
“This is how people who are particularly at risk can be identified, and measures can be taken at an early stage before the condition is expressed.
By keeping their blood pressure alow level, people with a high genetic risk score can achieve a lower risk of disease than people diagnosed with high blood pressure who we consider genetically protected,” says Øvretveit.
To study the significance of the genetic risk, the researchers have used health data from participants in the HUNT Study from Trøndelag and from the British ‘Children of the 90s’ study. The latter includes health data from nearly 14,000 children from the time they were born until they were in their twenties. The Health Survey in Trøndelag (HUNT) is a large, Norwegian population-based health survey that includes health information and biological material from the inhabitants of Trøndelag. Since the first collection round in 1984, 250,000 people from Trondheim have participated.
By comparing the blood pressure of the children who had the highest genetic risk with the children who were lowest on the scale, the researchers were able to see how the average blood pressure in the first group was higher from as early as the age of three. The difference lasted throughout their childhood and became more pronounced in adulthood.
Difference increases with age
“Although the differences in blood pressure are not very large, the time component is important. If your blood pressure is slightly elevated over many years, it will affect how prone you are to cardiovascular disease and kidney disease,” says Øvretveit.
When the researchers compared the risk scores and health data of the HUNT Study participants, they saw that the differences in blood pressure between the participants with the highest and those with the lowest risk persisted throughout their whole lives.
“We have been able to follow the same people from when they were around 37 until they were approximately 70 years old. We found that the differences persisted and resulted in various disease risks, where the differences in disease were quite large.”
The researchers also found more positive results: if measures are taken, such as lifestyle changes and medications, the risk of disease can be significantly reduced.
“By keeping their blood pressure at a low level, people with a high genetic risk score can achieve a lower risk of disease than people diagnosed with high blood pressure who we consider genetically protected. It seems that controlling your blood pressure matters more than genetics,” says Øvretveit.
Large population studies provide good data
As a basis for the study, Øvretveit and colleagues have used findings from the largest genetic study on blood pressure currently available, which includes data from over a million people. Øvretveit believes the study shows the possibilities that lie in genetic data from large population studies.
“I don’t think you should start measuring blood pressure in every single child, but the type of data we have used in this study can be used in the future not only to prevent disease, but also to address the risk factors associated with a disease,” says Øvretveit.
Is it a problem that Europeans are overrepresented in population studies?
“Yes, it is, but we are now actively working on developing genetic risk scores that are adapted to other populations, and that can be used across many different populations,” says Øvretveit.
To date, the researchers have identified around 1500 gene variants that have a clear connection with blood pressure, but the biological effect that many of these genes have on blood pressure is not known. In order to find a reliable method, the researchers had to identify high-risk combinations of gene variants and combinations that posed a lower risk through a process of trial and error.
“A common method for creating a risk score for genetic disease is to include only those gene variants that are known to have a strong connection with the disease,” says Øvretveit.
But there are other methods such as including gene variants that produce effects we are more uncertain about. As a result, we get a lot more data in the calculation.
“Complex blood pressure traits may be affected by far more gene variants than we have identified so far. The methods we have developed allow this to be taken into account, but we also have to keep in mind that the individual effects of these variants are small,” says Øvretveit.
The method that gave the most accurate risk score included over a million gene variants.
“But there are far more that have a known connection with high blood pressure,” says Øvretveit.
Reference:
Karsten Øvretveit, Emma M L Ingeström, Michail Spitieris, Vinicius Tragante, Kaitlin H Wade, Laurent F Thomas, Brooke N Wolford, Ulrik Wisløff, Daniel F Gudbjartsson, Hilma Holm, Kari Stefansson, Ben M Brumpton, Kristian Hveem: Polygenic risk scores associated with blood pressure traits across the lifespan, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad365
END
Genes affect your blood pressure from early childhood
Yes, you can have a greater risk of high blood pressure because of your genes. But you can do something about it.
2024-02-23
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Streams connected to groundwater show improved detoxification and microbial diversity
2024-02-23
Washington, D.C. — Feb. 23, 2024 —Streams with ample connections to shallow groundwater flowpaths have greater microbial diversity and are more effective at preventing toxic forms of metals—often products of upstream mining—from entering and being transported downstream. These streams are also better at detoxifying those metals already present. The research is published this week in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Under favorable conditions, the zone lining a stream channel stores nutrients and oxygen that meet nutritional and respiratory needs of local invertebrates and fish. That ...
Almodóvar receives NIH grant to study pulmonary hypertension in HIV patients
2024-02-23
Across the globe, more than 39 million people are living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, including more than 1.3 million new HIV diagnoses last year. The majority of those afflicted — approximately 76% — have access to antiviral therapy that allows them to live with HIV as a chronic disease.
Sharilyn Almodóvar, Ph.D., from the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine and the TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, said that even with the widespread ...
SK bioscience’s typhoid conjugate vaccine achieves WHO prequalification
2024-02-23
WHO PQ paves the way for public procurement of SKYTyphoid™ by UN organizations
Addition of new vaccine will diversify, expand TCV supply amid expected growing demand
February 23, 2024, SEOUL, Korea – SK bioscience and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) announced today that the typhoid conjugate vaccine developed by SK bioscience with technology transfer from IVI has achieved the World Health Organization prequalification (PQ), which paves the way for public procurement of the vaccine by UN organizations and gives a boost to the global TCV supply.
WHO PQ certifies the safety, efficacy, and GMP of a vaccine by evaluating its manufacturing ...
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) releases points to consider statement on the safety and efficacy of polygenic risk score assessment for embryo selection
2024-02-23
Should we be using polygenic risk score assessment for embryo selection? Providing in-depth analysis, the Social, Ethical and Legal Issues Committee of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has released a new Points to Consider statement to assist healthcare professionals and patients in understanding the safety and utility of preimplantation genetic testing for polygenic disorders (PGT-P) as a clinical service.
“Clinical Utility of Polygenic Risk Scores for Embryo Selection: A Points to Consider Statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)” was published in the College’s flagship journal, Genetics ...
PolyU researchers introduce biomineralisation as a sustainable strategy against microbial corrosion in marine concrete
2024-02-23
Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) is a prevalent issue in marine environments, leading to structural damages such as cracking in concrete infrastructure. This corrosion poses a persistent challenge, significantly reducing the lifespan of marine structures and resulting in substantial economic losses. In response to the need for an effective solution to combat the marine corrosion on concrete, researchers of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a biomineralization approach to protect marine concrete from MIC.
Prof. ...
UBC Okanagan researchers look to the past to improve construction sustainability
2024-02-23
Researchers at UBC Okanagan are revisiting old building practices—the use of by-products and cast-offs—as a way to improve building materials and sustainability of the trade.
A technique known as rammed earth construction uses materials that are alternatives to cement and are often more readily available in the environment. One such alternative is wood fly ash, a by-product of pulp mills and coal-fired power plants, explains Dr. Sumi Siddiqua, with UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering.
Industry has been trying to find a use for materials like fly ash ...
New study identifies potential gene targets for management of cassava whitefly, key vector of viral diseases threatening African food security
2024-02-23
Whiteflies, particularly the African cassava whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, SSA1-SG1), pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa by transmitting viruses that cause cassava brown streak disease and cassava mosaic virus disease. In a new study published in PeerJ Life & Environment, Dr. Tadeo Kaweesi and his team at the National Agricultural Research Organization identify potential gene targets that could revolutionize the management of this devastating pest and prove vital for food security in the region.
In the article ("In silico prediction of candidate gene targets ...
Twin, the new robotic exoskeleton for lower limbs
2024-02-23
Milan (Italy), 23 February 2024 – TWIN is the name of the new robotic exoskeleton for lower limbs, designed and developed by Rehab Technologies IIT – INAIL, the joint laboratory between the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) and the Prosthetic Center of INAIL (the prosthetic unit of the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work), which will allow patients to wear it more easily. Presented today in Milan during a press conference held at the Museum of Science and Technology, TWIN was demonstrated ...
Mass shooting lockdown drills help schoolchildren feel safer, US study suggests
2024-02-23
Lockdown drills, practiced to help prepare children for shooting incidents at school, make those who have been exposed to violence feel safer – a new study of thousands of students in the US indicates.
The finding, reported in a new peer-reviewed paper published in the Journal of School Violence, contradicts claims that the drills traumatize children, without making them feel safer.
Ensuring that students feel safe – and are safe – in schools is essential for them to learn and thrive, explains ...
Wake-up call for us all to establish regular healthy sleeping patterns
2024-02-23
t’s official. Getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night is currently out of reach for almost one-third of the population as Flinders University experts found 31% of adults had average sleep durations outside the recommended range.
The global study of thousands of adults published in Sleep Health found only 15% of people slept the recommended 7-9 hours for five or more nights per week – and among those who did achieve an average of 7-9 hours per night over the nine month monitoring period, about 40% ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Insulin resistance is linked to over 30 diseases – and to early death in women, study of people in the UK finds
Innovative semaglutide hydrogel could reduce diabetes shots to once a month
Weight loss could reduce the risk of severe infections in people with diabetes, UK research suggests
Long-term exposure to air pollution and a lack of green space increases the risk of hospitalization for respiratory conditions
Better cardiovascular health in early pregnancy may offset high genetic risk
Artificial intelligence method transforms gene mutation prediction in lung cancer: DeepGEM data releases at IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer
Antibody–drug conjugate I-DXd shows clinically meaningful response in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
IASLC Global Survey on biomarker testing reveals progress and persistent barriers in lung cancer biomarker testing
Research shows pathway to developing predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors
Just how dangerous is Great Salt Lake dust? New research looks for clues
Maroulas appointed Associate Vice Chancellor, Director of AI Tennessee
New chickadee research finds cognitive skills impact lifespan
Cognitive behavioral therapy enhances brain circuits to relieve depression
Terasaki Institute awarded $2.3 Million grant from NIH for organ transplantation research using organs-on-a-chip technology
Atoms on the edge
Postdoc takes multipronged approach to muon detection
Mathematical proof: Five satellites needed for precise navigation
Scalable, multi-functional device lays groundwork for advanced quantum applications
Falling for financial scams? It may signal early Alzheimer’s disease
Integrating MRI and OCT for new insights into brain microstructure
Designing a normative neuroimaging library to support diagnosis of traumatic brain injury
Department of Energy announces $68 million in funding for artificial intelligence for scientific research
DOE, ORNL announce opportunity to define future of high-performance computing
Molecular simulations, supercomputing lead to energy-saving biomaterials breakthrough
Low-impact yoga and exercise found to help older women manage urinary incontinence
Genetic studies reveal new insights into cognitive impairment in schizophrenia
Researcher develops technology to provide cleaner energy and cleaner water
Expect the unexpected: nanoscale silver unveils intrinsic self-healing abilities
nTIDE September 2024 Jobs Report: Gains in employment for people with disabilities appear to level off after reducing gaps with non-disabled workers
Wiley enhances NMR Spectral Library Collection with extensive new databases
[Press-News.org] Genes affect your blood pressure from early childhoodYes, you can have a greater risk of high blood pressure because of your genes. But you can do something about it.