A new study from Mass General Brigham has found that a tool called the Brain Care Score, or BCS, can help predict who is more likely to have a stroke.
The research shows that this score works well for people of different races in the United States. The results were published in the medical journal Neurology.
One of the most important findings is that improving this score may help prevent strokes, especially among Black adults, who are at higher risk.
In the U.S., Black adults are two to three times more likely to suffer a stroke than white adults. This is a serious issue because strokes can cause long-term health problems or even death.
Dr. Sanjula Dhillon Singh, the lead researcher, said the Brain Care Score offers a practical way to understand and reduce this risk. The score helps identify behaviors people can change to lower their chances of having a stroke.
The Brain Care Score was first created at the McCance Center for Brain Health. It looks at a mix of physical health, daily habits, and emotional well-being. It includes things like blood pressure, blood sugar, diet, alcohol use, social connections, and stress.
Each person gets a score based on how healthy their lifestyle and habits are. The higher the score, the lower the risk of developing brain problems like stroke, dementia, and depression.
In the study, researchers looked at information from more than 10,000 people who took part in a long-term research project called the REGARDS study. These adults were aged 45 or older and came from different parts of the country.
None of them had experienced a stroke when the study began. The researchers measured twelve lifestyle and health-related factors for each person to calculate their Brain Care Score, which can range from 0 to 21 points.
The participants were followed for an average of nearly 16 years. During that time, the researchers found that people with higher Brain Care Scores were much less likely to have a stroke.
For example, when a Black adult’s score was five points higher, their risk of having a stroke dropped by 53%. For white adults, the same score increase was linked to a 25% lower stroke risk. These results remained true even after researchers considered other things like age, income, and education.
Dr. Evy Reinders, the first author of the study, explained that the Brain Care Score brings together physical health, lifestyle, and emotional health into one simple number. This makes it easier for people and doctors to track brain health.
She also said the study shows that everyday choices—like what you eat, how active you are, and how well you manage stress—can have a big impact, especially for people who are more at risk.
Even though the study did not prove that improving your score directly causes fewer strokes, it still highlights the value of taking care of your overall health. The researchers believe that this score can help reduce health differences between racial groups, which is a major public health goal.
Dr. Jonathan Rosand, a senior researcher and the founder of the Global Brain Care Coalition, called this study a major step forward. He said that proving the Brain Care Score works for people from different backgrounds is essential. It helps make sure everyone has a fair chance to protect their brain and live a healthier life.
In summary, this study suggests that paying attention to your Brain Care Score could help you avoid having a stroke. Simple actions like eating better, staying active, building strong relationships, and managing stress can improve your score and possibly protect your brain.
For Black adults, who face a higher stroke risk, the benefits could be even greater. This research supports the idea that better daily habits can lead to a healthier brain and a longer, better life.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that Thanks to his wife’s quick reaction, postal worker fully recovered from a stroke and new hope for people with irregular heartbeat to prevent stroke.
For more health information, please read studies that Stronger high blood pressure treatment may help prevent stroke in older people and Stroke death risk increases again after falling for 40 years.
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