Dementia risk increases with ischaemic stroke severity and recurrence, study shows
Patients who experience at least two moderate to severe strokes have a near sevenfold higher risk of impaired cognition, researchers say
Dementia risk is significantly increased after ischaemic stroke, regardless of vascular risk factors, with the highest risk seen in people with more severe and repeat strokes, new research shows.
The results suggest the presence of a dose-response relationship, the US and Israeli authors say, and underline the importance of both primary and secondary stroke prevention.
The team analysed data from some 15,400 participants in the ongoing prospective Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study who were free of stroke and dementia at recruitment (1987 to 1989) to determine the association between the two conditions.
The average age at baseline and follow-up period was 54 and 26 years, respectively, and just over half of the cohort were women.
