New research shows that younger adults who have migraines or other unusual health issues may face double the risk of stroke compared to those with traditional risk factors like high blood pressure.
The findings were published in the journal Stroke, from the American Stroke Association.
Stroke in younger adults (ages 18 to 49) is becoming more common. In many cases, doctors cannot find a clear reason for the stroke, making it harder to prevent or treat. These types of strokes are called cryptogenic strokes, meaning the cause is unknown.
This new study shows that nontraditional risk factors, such as migraines with aura, chronic illnesses, or pregnancy-related issues, may play a bigger role than once thought.
The study looked at data from more than 1,000 adults across Europe, with a median age of 41. Half had suffered a cryptogenic ischemic stroke (a stroke caused by a blood clot), while the other half had no history of stroke.
Researchers studied a mix of 12 traditional risk factors (like smoking and high cholesterol), 10 nontraditional ones (like kidney disease and blood clots in the veins), and 5 risk factors specific to women, such as pregnancy complications.
One of the most important findings involved a heart condition called patent foramen ovale (PFO). A PFO is a small hole in the heart that is usually harmless but is known to increase stroke risk. Among people with a PFO, nontraditional risk factors like migraines were more strongly linked to stroke than traditional ones.
In fact, for people with a PFO, nontraditional risk factors more than doubled the risk of having a stroke, even after accounting for age, sex, and education level. Meanwhile, traditional risk factors only raised the risk by about 18%.
For people without a PFO, each traditional risk factor increased stroke risk by 41%, while each nontraditional risk factor increased it by 70%. Risk factors unique to women, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, raised stroke risk by 70% across the board.
The study also calculated how much of the overall stroke risk could be blamed on each group of risk factors. Among people without a PFO, traditional risk factors explained about 65% of the risk, while nontraditional risk factors explained 27%, and female-specific risks made up 19%.
But among those with a PFO, nontraditional risks accounted for 49% of stroke cases, traditional risks 34%, and women’s health risks 22%.
Migraine with aura stood out as the most significant nontraditional risk factor, especially for those with a PFO. It accounted for 46% of stroke risk in people with a PFO and 23% in those without.
Lead author Dr. Jukka Putaala from Helsinki University Hospital emphasized the need for better screening in young adults, especially women. He said that healthcare providers should ask about migraine history and other nontraditional risks, not just look for high blood pressure or smoking.
Dr. Tracy Madsen, a U.S. expert who was not involved in the study, said that this research may help doctors take a more personalized approach when assessing stroke risk in young adults. She added that stroke risks can differ by age and sex, and that young women may actually be more vulnerable than young men.
The study had some limitations. It was based on patient reports, which might not always be accurate, and nearly all participants were white adults from Europe, which means the results may not apply to other populations.
Even with these limitations, the study suggests that nontraditional health problems—including migraines, certain chronic illnesses, and pregnancy-related complications—can significantly raise the risk of stroke in younger adults.
This highlights the need for more detailed health assessments in younger patients, especially those who appear healthy by traditional standards.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more health information, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
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