{"id":270142,"date":"2025-10-01T21:12:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T21:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/270142\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T21:12:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T21:12:11","slug":"newly-awarded-grant-to-uab-professor-examines-genetic-risk-of-high-blood-pressure-in-young-and-middle-aged-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/270142\/","title":{"rendered":"Newly awarded grant to UAB professor examines genetic risk of high blood pressure in young and middle-aged adults"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PankajPankaj Arora, M.D.Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham<\/a> Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine<\/a> Division of Cardiovascular Disease<\/a> were awarded a $3.7 million grant from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute<\/a> to study how sharing personalized genetic information may help young and middle-aged adults with high blood pressure take better control of their health.<\/p>\n

The five-year clinical trial is the first of its kind in the United States to test whether showing patients their genetic risk for high blood pressure can lead to better blood pressure control, improved diet and exercise, and more heart-healthy behaviors.<\/p>\n

The study will be led by Pankaj Arora, M.D<\/a>., associate professor of medicine and director of the UAB Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic<\/a>, who oversees one of the largest National Institutes of Health and industry-funded Cardiovascular Clinical and Translational Research Program<\/a> in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh blood pressure is incredibly common and often starts young, but many people do not realize they are at risk until it is too late,\u201d Arora said. \u201cWe are hoping that by sharing someone\u2019s genetic risk\u2014like a snapshot of what\u2019s written in their DNA\u2014we can inspire them to make meaningful changes now that protect their heart later.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study will enroll 300 adults ages 18 to 55 who have high blood pressure and poor cardiovascular health. Half of the study population will receive standard care, while the other half will get their personalized genetic risk score for blood pressure along with sessions of genetic counseling and tailored health advice. Researchers will track changes in blood pressure, physical activity, diet and health behaviors over 12 months.<\/p>\n

What makes this study especially innovative is that it is looking at genetics, alongside behavioral science. The team is using a framework called the Health Belief Model to help understand how genetic information may shift people\u2019s attitudes and motivation to take action to improve their health.<\/p>\n

\u201cYounger adults may not feel an urgent need to improve their health because heart disease feels like a future problem,\u201d Arora said. \u201cBy showing them their genetic risk and what they can do about it now, we are making prevention more personal\u2014and more powerful. We believe this trial will pave the way for using genetics not just to treat disease, but to prevent it.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information about the study, please visit the ClinicalTrials.gov page Clinical Implementation of Blood Pressure Polygenic Risk Score: A Randomized Clinical Trial<\/a> or contact the study team at 205-934-7173.<\/p>\n

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