A study of adults ages 20–54 in greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky found stroke rates nearly doubled, from 33.9 per 100,000 in 1993–94 to 62.2 in 2020. Ischemic strokes drove the increase; experts recommend addressing cardiovascular risks early.
Researchers also reported increases in several risk factors over the period: hypertension from 47% to 60%, diabetes from 19% to 26%, atrial fibrillation from 1% to 6%, and substance use from 5% to 40%, largely attributed to increased marijuana use. They could not determine whether these trends explain the stroke-rate rise because they lacked comparable data for people without stroke.
Study author David Robinson cited the American Heart Association’s Essential 8, which includes healthy eating, physical activity, avoiding tobacco, quality sleep, and managing weight, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. He also stressed early screening through primary care. Neurologist Michelle Leppert said strokes remain fairly rare and recommended annual wellness visits; she also advised young women to monitor blood pressure during pregnancy and after birth and talk with a doctor about migraines with visual changes if taking estrogen-containing birth-control pills.
