Cognitive decline after age 60 is associated with increased risk of stroke
Quick Look
- A study from Lund University found that in people over 60 years of age, poor scores on tests of memory, processing speed and general cognitive ability were associated with an increased risk of stroke in the future.
- The strongest association was found in the 60–69 age group, where those with the worst cognitive scores were 86% more likely to have a stroke than those with the best scores.
- In people over 70 years of age, no such association was found after controlling for other factors.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The study included 4,912 people aged 60 years or older with no history of stroke, dementia or TIA. Their cognitive function was tested and their health was monitored for an average of more than 12 years. During this time, 572 participants suffered a stroke.
Declines in memory, processing speed, and overall cognitive ability after age 60 may indicate an increased risk of stroke in the future. This conclusion was reached by scientists at Lund University in Sweden. The results of their study were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).
The study included 4,912 people over the age of 60 who had no previous history of stroke, dementia or transient ischemic attack. Volunteers took tests on memory, processing speed, speech and problem-solving ability. On average, their health was monitored for more than 12 years, during which time 572 people suffered a stroke for the first time.
A particularly pronounced association was found among participants aged 60-69 years. People with the lowest overall cognitive test scores had an 86 percent higher risk of stroke than those with the best scores. Poor memory scores were associated with a 68 percent increase in risk and a 66 percent increase in processing speed.
Scientists consider hidden damage to the blood vessels of the brain to be one of the possible explanations. They may not yet cause noticeable symptoms, but they may already impair cognitive abilities and at the same time increase the likelihood of a future stroke.
In people over 70 years of age, such a stable connection could not be found after taking other factors into account.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Cognitive tests may be included in stroke risk screening protocols for people over 60 years of age
Possible · Within years
Open Questions
- What specific mechanisms link occult vascular injury to cognitive decline and stroke risk?
- Can cognitive tests be used as a tool for early diagnosis of stroke risk?
- Why is the relationship between cognitive function and stroke risk not seen in people over 70 years of age?
