Cognitive Decline in 60s May Signal Higher Stroke Risk, Swedish Study Finds

Key points

• Adults aged 60-69 with the lowest scores on memory and thinking tests had a 66-86% higher risk of stroke compared to those with the highest scores.
• The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, followed nearly 5,000 adults in Sweden for an average of 12.3 years.
• The link between low cognitive performance and stroke risk was not significant for adults aged 70 or older.
• Researchers suggest that 'silent' brain injuries may explain the connection, as these are more detectable in the 60s than in older age groups.
• The findings are observational and do not prove that low cognitive scores cause strokes, but they may serve as an early warning sign.

Background

This study builds on previous research linking cognitive impairment to stroke risk, but it is the first to show a clear age-specific association in the 60-69 age group. The Good Aging in Skåne study, which provided the data, has been tracking older adults in southern Sweden since 2001.

How outlets are covering it

The Independent and Earth.com emphasize the potential of cognitive testing as a screening tool for stroke risk in the 60s. Medscape and StudyFinds highlight the limitations of the study, noting that it is observational and that the link disappeared in older age groups. All sources agree that the findings are significant but require further research, particularly with brain scans, to confirm the causal relationship.

Why it matters

This study suggests that cognitive testing could be a valuable tool for identifying individuals at higher risk of stroke, particularly in the 60-69 age group. Early identification could lead to earlier intervention and prevention of stroke, which is a leading cause of death worldwide.

What to watch

Researchers are calling for future studies that include brain scans to determine whether underlying cerebrovascular changes explain the link between low cognitive performance and stroke. They also want to investigate whether cognitive testing combined with other medical measurements could identify people at higher risk in younger age groups.