People whose intellectual performance deteriorates have a higher risk of stroke than people with well-preserved cognitive functions, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
Until now, it was widely known that stroke often causes a deterioration of intellectual performance, emphasize the authors of the study.
Assuming a significant increase in the number of older people in the world, the prevalence of cognitive impairment and stroke will increase rapidly in the next decades, especially in rich countries, comments co-author of the study Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. As he reminds, both of these ailments are the main causes of human disability. In addition, stroke is considered the third cause of death in people over 40.
American scientists from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and the University of California in Los Angeles, together with researchers from Taiwan and South Korea, analyzed data collected in 18 studies, which included almost 122 thousand. with people. With nearly 8 thousand of them had a stroke. Research has been conducted mainly in Europe and North America.
It turned out that people with reduced intellectual performance had 39 percent. a higher risk of future stroke compared with people without cognitive decline. When only studies that used the generally accepted definition of cognitive impairment were included in the analysis, the risk of stroke was 64 percent higher.
The higher risk was especially for ischemic stroke – a 65% increase in risk. and fatal stroke – by 68%
Based on these results, the authors of the study estimate that the deterioration of intellectual performance should be considered an early symptom of cerebral ischemia.
As they reminded, the observed relationship can be explained by the fact that both cognitive disorders and stroke have common causes, such as blockage of the cerebral arteries (by a clot or embolism), their narrowing as a result of atherosclerosis, inflammation and others. Therefore, early treatment of these problems can be a potential way to prevent strokes and a further decline in intellectual performance. (PAP)