ACE and Stroke: Other genes associated with stroke and/or VaD risk include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE [81]; only stroke), alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (ACT) [82], glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier (GCLM) [83], endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) [84], and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) [85].