Black Americans face a higher risk of certain neurological disorders, a disparity that has puzzled researchers. A recent study in Baltimore examined the postmortem brains of 151 individuals who identified as Black or African American to shed light on this issue.
Researchers analyzed the impact of African and European ancestries on these individuals. They discovered that genes linked to African ancestry might increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke by affecting certain brain cells. Conversely, genes tied to European ancestry seemed to influence other brain cells, potentially raising the risk of Parkinson’s disease, a disorder less prevalent among Black Americans.
