Teens struggling with mental abilities triple risk of stroke by age 50: study

Studies have shown that people who have weakened mental functions during adolescence are three times more likely to have a stroke by the age of 50.

Stroke, also known as brain attack, is a sudden disease state of the cardiovascular system, as a result of which the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, which affects speech, eating, movement and other body functions. This may happen due to a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain tissue (hemorrhagic stroke). About half of stroke patients may experience long-term impairment.

According to the results test Teenagers with indigent concentration, difficulty solving problems and learning disabilities are at greater risk of early-onset stroke, according to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

“In addition to obesity and hypertension in adolescents, reduced cognitive function may be a risk factor for early-onset stroke,” the researchers conclude in their study.

The study results are particularly vital given the rising number of strokes among people under 50.

The research team used data from a nationally representative sample of 1.7 million newborn Israelis who underwent comprehensive cognitive testing prior to mandatory military service. The study used data from participants aged 16–20 from 1987 to 2012.

Based on cognitive test results, participants were divided into groups with low (IQ score below 89), medium (IQ score range: 89–118), or high (IQ score above 118) intelligence level. Participants’ data were then linked to the Israel National Stroke Registry. Researchers used proportional hazards models to estimate the risk of a first ischemic stroke between 2014 and 2018.

During this period, a total of 908 cases of stroke were recorded, of which 767 were ischemic and 141 were hemorrhagic. Mortality was 5%, and 62% of deaths occurred within 1 month of stroke. The mean age at first stroke was 39.5 years.

“People with low or average mental ability scores had higher rates of both types of stroke, particularly ischemic stroke. After adjusting for potentially confounding factors, people with low mental ability scores were more than 2.5 times more likely to have a stroke before age 50 than those with high mental ability scores, whereas those with average mental ability scores were 78% more likely to have a stroke,” the press release said.

After taking into account potentially influential factors, the risk was almost twice as high among those with average mental ability and more than 3 times higher among those with low mental ability in adolescence.

The study did not establish a causal relationship. The researchers acknowledge several limitations, including a lack of data on lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical activity and diet, as well as higher education and various vital social determinants of health.