Brain Health

Strokes among adults under 55 have nearly doubled in three decades

Stroke is no longer just a disease of older age. A long-running study from Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky tracked first strokes in adults ages 20 to 54 from 1993 to 2020 and found 2,076 cases. The rate rose from 33.9 to 62.2 per 100,000 person-years, an increase of about 83%. Most of the rise came from ischemic strokes, where a blocked vessel cuts off blood flow to the brain. Rates of bleeding strokes stayed roughly flat. Over the same period, high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and substance use became more common among younger stroke patients. Survival after stroke improved, which means more younger adults may now live for decades with lasting disability. The researchers say the exact reasons for the surge are not yet clear. For health-conscious adults, the findings point to the value of managing vascular risk factors early, well before midlife, rather than waiting for older age.