Difficulty concentrating in adolescence increases stroke risk

Every year, 150,000 people suffer a stroke in France. While more than half of patients are between 65 and 84 years old, a quarter are under 65. This pathology, which is characterized by a sudden cessation of blood circulation inside the brain, represents the leading cause of acquired disability in adults with more than 500,000 French people living with after-effects.

To prevent this disorder and its consequences, it is essential to know your risk factors. Having a lower level of mental abilities – that is, the ability to concentrate, problem solve or learn – in adolescence would be one. Here is the conclusion of a study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Stroke: Teens with low mental abilities have 3 times higher risk

To determine the link between brain function and stroke risk, researchers took a nationally representative sample of 1.7 million young Israelis assessed between 1987 and 2012. In addition to weight, blood pressure, current diabetes, d Other factors assessed included education level, socio-economic background and mental abilities. Their records were linked to the country’s stroke database.

Between 2014 and 2018, 908 cases of stroke were recorded, of which 767 were caused by a blood clot (ischemic) and 141 by a brain hemorrhage (intracerebral hemorrhage). The average age of a first stroke was 39.5 years.

“Among those with low to average mental abilities, the incidence of both types of stroke was higher, especially ischemic stroke,” write the authors in their press release.

“Of the 767 cases of ischemic stroke, 311 (41%) occurred before the age of 40. After accounting for potentially influential factors, this risk was almost double (96% higher) in people with an average level of mental capacity and more than three times higher among those with a low level in adolescence”they add.

Stroke: Cognitive function could be used to identify people at risk

The link found between mental abilities in adolescence and stroke risk in adulthood was confirmed even “after further analysis, including taking into account current diabetes and limiting the age of first stroke to 40 years.”

While the researchers acknowledge that their observational study has various limitations – such as the lack of information on lifestyle (smoking, physical activity, diet, etc.) – they assure that their results remain an essential step forward in the fight against strokes and their consequences.

“Without intervention on risk factors in early adulthood, the risk of stroke accumulates”explains the team. “Cognitive function may serve as a means of stratifying individuals at higher risk for stroke and intervention via potential mediators such as health illiteracy, education, and health behaviors. Providing early social and health support to individuals with lower cognitive function may be critical to mitigating their elevated risk.”