Your blood type could reveal more about your health than you think — even your risk of having a stroke before the age of 60. 

In a groundbreaking study led by researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), scientists have discovered that certain blood types are linked to a higher risk of early-onset ischemic stroke.

According to the World Health Organisation, stroke affects nearly 15 million people globally each year, killing 5 million and leaving another 5 million permanently disabled. 

While strokes are commonly associated with old age, early strokes — those occurring before 60 — are on the rise, and their impact can be severe and long-lasting.

The meta-analysis, published in the journal Neurology, examined 48 genetic studies involving over 17,000 early stroke patients and nearly 600,000 healthy individuals.

Researchers found that people with blood type A had a 16% higher risk of early stroke, while those with blood type O had a 12% lower risk.

“People with early strokes are more likely to die or live with disability for decades, yet research on causes has been limited,” said study co-lead Dr. Steven J. Kittner, Professor of Neurology at UMSOM. 

Source: Daijiworld