Stroke Rate Continues to Fall for Older Americans

A study published in JAMA Neurology found stroke rates among older Americans have been steadily declining since the late 1980s, reports WebMD . Between 1987 and 2017, the rate of stroke incidence among Americans 65 and older fell by 33 percent in each decade, with no leveling off in recent years. The number of older adults who smoked fell over time, although blood pressure and type 2 diabetes incidence grew. "At the population level, we found that the decline in strokes was larger than what would be predicted from risk factor control alone," said Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Professor Josef Coresh. A total of 1,028 strokes among participants aged 65 and older was recorded over 30 years, which dropped by 32 percent over time. Coresh suggested factors excluded by the study — like exercise, salt intake, and overall diet — might play a role in this phenomenon. American Heart Association/American Stroke Association spokesperson Larry Goldstein also noted the study did not factor in exactly how well controlled participants' blood pressure and other risk factors were.