Stroke Genetics Update: 2011

Although stroke remains a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, recently there have been significant advances related to our understanding of the genetic basis of stroke. Ongoing research efforts put us on the cusp for major breakthroughs in the field. In this review, we present the substantial evidence for the contribution of genetic variation to the development of stroke, and the difficulties posed in the study of stroke given the numerous genetically driven risk factors and stroke subtypes. We emphasize recent findings implementing candidate gene and genome-wide association approaches. We then discuss how emerging knowledge is informing and reshaping our understanding of stroke biology and how, in the near term, genetics may be used clinically to identify individuals who are at risk of disease or who may derive benefit from specific treatment modalities. Lastly, we address ongoing and future approaches that will continue to improve our understanding of stroke genetics.