Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Black Health Update - Heart Disease.

I couldn't have said it better myself, so I'm linking the original post - Racial differences & heart attacks. But here are some key points.

  • About 40 percent of African-Americans have a genetic variant that can protect them after heart failure and prolong their lives, according to research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and collaborating institutions.
  • The researchers...found that 41 percent of African-Americans have a variant GRK5 gene that more effectively suppresses the action of adrenaline than the more common version of the gene. People with the variant gene could be said to have a natural beta blocker, Dorn says. The variant is extremely rare in Caucasians, accounting for its predominant effects in African-Americans.
  • Razib goes on further to explain the importance of this research and why working with sub-populations (or different 'racial') groups is important to understanding not only effective medical treatments but evolutionary processes as well.

Keep learning.

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