Stroke Is Getting Younger What Today’s Health Data Really Tells Us
Stroke is often thought of as an illness that mainly affects older adults. But recent U.S. public-health data suggests the picture is changing: stroke prevalence has increased among younger and middle-aged adults, even though older adults still face the highest overall prevalence.
According to a CDC analysis of more than 5.2 million survey respondents, overall self-reported stroke prevalence increased 7.8% between 2011–2013 and 2020–2022. Among adults aged 18–44, prevalence increased 14.6%, while adults aged 45–64 saw a 15.7% increase.
That doesn’t mean stroke has suddenly become common among young people. The absolute prevalence remains much lower in younger adults. But the trend is important because many of the factors associated with stroke risk—particularly high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors—can develop years before a stroke occurs.
Why This Matters
Stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bleeds. Brain cells are highly dependent on oxygen, so a stroke
Photo by Jacqueline Day on Unsplash
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