The incidence of ischemic strokes among people under 55 is on the rise worldwide
The incidence of strokes among people under the age of 55 has been rising worldwide since the early 2000s, although it is declining among older age groups. The increase applies to ischemic strokes—those that occur when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain, according to ABC News Australia, citing a review by the World Stroke Organization.
According to the Australian Stroke Foundation, as of 2023, more than 440,000 Australians were living with a stroke. Approximately one in four strokes occurred in people of working age. Ischemic strokes account for about 80% of all stroke cases in Australia.
Lisa Murphy, CEO of the Stroke Foundation, stated that preventive measures are still primarily focused on older adults. Among the known risk factors, she cited high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat. According to her, these factors may not have noticeable symptoms.
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Vincent Thais, a professor of neurology at the Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, noted that the reasons for the rise in ischemic strokes among young people have not yet been fully determined. He also mentioned an increase in the number of cryptogenic strokes, for which the cause cannot be determined. Such cases are linked, in particular, to rising drug use, air pollution, longer working hours, and later pregnancies.
One of the factors associated with cryptogenic strokes is a patent foramen ovale (PFO)—an opening in the heart. Australian clinical studies show that it has been detected in up to 50% of young people with such stroke cases. At the same time, Teys emphasized that PFOs also occur in healthy young people and often do not require closure unless the person has already suffered a first stroke. He called for increased screening of people aged 18 to 60 after a stroke, as closing a PFO with certain characteristics can prevent a recurrent stroke.
In Australia, specialized rehabilitation services for people aged 18 to 55 who have had a stroke are available only in the states of Victoria and South Australia. According to Tease, younger patients need specific support and funding for such services, particularly to return to work and drive a car.
