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Asthma Genetic Factors

Asthma is a medical condition that causes shortness of breath. It is present in one child in seven in some societies, although this statistic is not the same across the board. While there are a number of factors that cause asthma, genetics are starting to emerge as one of them, as there tends to be a strong familial connection with asthma sufferers.

  1. Susceptible Groups

    • While asthma tends to have higher rates of prevalence among populations that are urban, privileged or both, there is also a strong genetic correlation among these populations. People of Caucasian descent living in Western cities tend to have lower rates of asthma than do some other groups, such as people of African/Carribean descent.

      However, it is difficult to solely attribute this correlation to genetics alone as Africans and Carribeans tend to live in more impoverished conditions within cities. While a well-off urban person is more likely to have asthma than a poor rural person, he is less likely to have asthma than a poor urban person. This means that while there is a correlation between race and asthma in urban populations, it is not necessary causal.

    Familial Connections

    • In spite of the skepticism indicated above, there is a strong familial connection with asthma. Scientists at the World Health Organization, or WHO, have reached a 50/50 consensus: asthma is caused by an equal combination of genetics and environment.

      This conclusion was reached by first examining asthmatic populations, then comparing these results to the actual genetic code. Five different genes and gene complexes have been identified as "asthmatic" genes.

    Treatment

    • The discovery of a genetic connection to asthma means that genetic treatments are currently being developed. As of 2010, the asthma gene can only be used as an indicator of asthma. However, as science progresses treatments are becoming more and more possible -- rather than treat the symptoms of asthma, the WHO is attempting to find a way to treat the susceptibility itself. If this gene can be mutated or eliminated, then inhalers and steroids will become less necessary as the need for them will be eliminated with the asthma gene.

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