Nearly a third of West Africans have genetic variants that increase their risk of developing kidney disease
October 28, 2024
Press release
Monday October 28, 2024
NIH research suggests people of West African descent may benefit from earlier health interventions.
Research has shown that African Americans are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease if they have a genetic variant of the APOL1 gene.National Human Genome Research Institute
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and their colleagues have discovered that a genetic factor is a major risk factor for kidney disease among people in Ghana and Nigeria. The study found that even having a variant of a gene called APOL1 May increase your risk of kidney disease. APOL1 The study was published in the journal Immunity and Genetics. This study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine Researchers from the Human Heredity and Health in Africa Kidney Disease Research Network
Previous research has shown that genetic variants can be correlated with a wide range of diseases. APOL1 Increases risk of chronic kidney disease in African Americans. There is little information about the effects of these variants on people from West African countries, where most African Americans come from. Genetic Ancestry. Studying how these genome variants contribute to chronic kidney disease in West Africans or people of West African descent may help determine the risk of kidney disease among many Americans.
Our study will provide data on West Africans to help us understand the risk of chronic kidney disease associated with APOL1 “We’re seeing a lot of variations,” said Adebowale Adeyemo MBBS, co-author and chief scientist at the NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute. “By comparing the results of this study with previous research in African Americans, we can gain an even deeper understanding of their effects.” APOL1 Variants . You can make better decisions and possibly receive earlier treatment if you know your genetic risks for diseases such as kidney failure.
More than 8,000 participants from Ghana and Nigeria took part in the study. Nearly 5,000 of them had chronic kidney disease at various stages, and more than 800 others were diagnosed with the disease after a kidney biopsy.
Nearly a third of people in both countries carry the disease. APOL1 Variants that can increase your risk of kidney disease. These are not the only ones that can cause chronic kidney disease. APOL1 Other studies have shown that these variations are also present in Europeans, Asians, Central Americans and South Americans.
The researchers also found that having one risk variant on one copy was not enough. APOL1 The presence of both copies of the gene is associated with chronic kidney disease. This contradicts previous research in African Americans that suggested that both copies of the gene were responsible for the development of the disease. APOL1 These variants must be present to increase risk. Two risk variants on one copy increase the risk of chronic kidney disease by 18 %. APOL1The risk of heart attack increases by 25 %.
Here are some of the ways to get in touch with each other APOL1 Risk variants can also increase your chances of getting a kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which is scarring of kidney tissue.
Adeyemo says that even if the results of a study on one ancestral group or ancestry are considered true for all humans, there can be substantial differences within the same ethnic or ancestry group. This study highlights the need to include diverse populations in global genomic research on diseases.
One in seven American adults is a teenager. Chronic kidney disease affects 37 million Americans. African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Genetic and environmental factors such as social factors like smoking, unhealthy diet, and lack of access to health care can increase the risk of kidney disease. The early stages of kidney disease may be characterized by no symptoms. People with diabetes and high blood pressure are also at a higher risk of developing kidney disease. The kidneys slowly become damaged and are no longer able to filter the blood as they should. This leads to a buildup of waste products in the body.
The disease can affect other kidney functions, including red blood cell production and calcium balance in the body. Other health problems such as heart attacks and strokes can be caused by the disease.
Further research with participants from the United States could help us better understand how APOL1 Dr. Paul Kimmel is the program director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and a co-author of this study. We hope these findings provide insight into improving the health of patients with or at risk for kidney disease.
National Human Genome Research Institute The NIH is comprised of 27 institutes and centers. It is an agency of Health and Human Services. The NHGRI Division of Intramural Research is responsible for developing and implementing technologies that help diagnose, treat, and understand genomic diseases. You can find more information about the NHGRI at the following website: https://www.genome.gov.
The National Institutes of Health: The NIH is the medical research agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It includes 27 institutes and centers. The NIH, the nation's medical research agency, is the primary federal agency that conducts and supports basic, translational, clinical, and other types of medical research. It also studies the causes, treatments, and cures of common and rare diseases. Visit the NIH for more information about its programs and services. www.nih.gov.
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