Moyamoya Syndrome Risk Factors & Causes

Asian Descent

Another strong suggestion of the genetic component is the fact Moyamoya syndrome occurs mostly in individuals of Asian descent. This condition is found in populations throughout the entire world, but it most commonly occurs in East Asian countries, and outside of these countries, development of the disease is exceedingly rare. China, Japan, and Korea are the East Asian countries with the highest rates of Moyamoya disease, possibly because of unknown genetic factors within those populations. When this condition does occur in Western countries, it's far more likely to affect individuals of Asian descent rather than those of European, Native American, or African descent.