Elderly St. Petersburgers warned about the risk of stroke because of the speed of thinking

Swedish scientists from Lund University found that cognitive decline in the elderly is associated with an increased likelihood of stroke. The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, according to IVBG.ru.

The study involved 4,912 people over the age of 60 without stroke, dementia or a history of transient ischemic attack. They passed tests on memory, information processing speed, speech and problem solving. The follow-up lasted an average of more than 12 years, during which time 572 participants suffered a stroke for the first time.

The strongest association was found in the group of 60-69 years. Those with the worst overall test scores had an 86% higher risk of stroke than the leaders. Poor memory increased the risk by 68% and slow processing by 66%.

Scientists suggest that the reason may lie in hidden damage to the vessels of the brain: they do not yet make themselves felt, but already impair cognitive functions and increase the chance of stroke. In people over 70 years after adjusting for other factors, a stable relationship was not found.