Blood vessels may rupture earlier in life from one generation to the next in those who inherit brain aneurysm, researchers reported at the American Stroke Association?s International Stroke Conference 2007.
A phenomenon called ?genetic anticipation? occurs when one generation has a disease and passes it on genetically, and the next generation has the disease earlier in life, said Daniel Woo, M.D., M.S., lead author of the study.
Researchers studied genetic anticipation that relates to intracranial aneurysm, bleeding inside the brain resulting from the rupture of a weakened blood vessel. Such a rupture leads to a type of stroke known as subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
About 10 percent of the people who have an intracranial aneurysm will have a first-degree relative who has one as well, said Woo, associate professor of neurology and director of cerebrovascular genetics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio.