Genes associated with African ancestry may contribute to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke in Black Americans, while genes linked to European ancestry could increase the likelihood of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The research, published in Nature Neuroscience, examined the postmortem brains of 151 individuals who identified as Black or African American.
The study, a collaboration between the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Duke University, Morgan State University, and community leaders, aimed to address the underrepresentation of Black Americans in genomic studies of neurological disorders. Dr. Kafui Dzirasa, an advisor to the study and professor of psychiatry at Duke University, emphasized the importance of mitigating the increased risk associated with different ancestries.
Researchers discovered that genetic ancestry accounted for over 60% of the differences in gene expression, with immune cells and blood vessel walls being most influenced. These findings could explain the higher incidence of strokes and Alzheimer’s dementia among African Americans, as well as the lower rates of Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
The study also highlighted the need for precision medicine, focusing on an individual’s genomic architecture rather than relying on racial categories when assessing disease risk. The African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative, established in 2019, played a crucial role in building trust within the Baltimore community, ensuring the donation of brains for medical research.
Rev. Alvin Hathaway, Sr., along with other prominent African American leaders, was instrumental in earning the trust of families and communities. The study marks a significant step towards understanding and addressing health disparities among different races and ethnicities in the United States.
“African ancestry genes may be linked to Black Americans’ risk for some brain disorders” (June 12, 2024)
