Those who had a head injury had a 32 % increased risk of ischemic stroke , the most common type of stroke .
Issue 34.1 WINTER 2025
Even Mild Head Injury Increases the Risk of Ischemic Stroke
Those who had a head injury had a 32 % increased risk of ischemic stroke , the most common type of stroke .
Suffering a traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) – no matter how severe – is associated with a significantly increased risk of ischemic stroke in a diverse group of U . S . adults , according to new research being presented at the 148th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association ( ANA ). Suffering more than one head injury further increased the risk .
“ Our study found that those who experience two or more head injuries , including even mild head injuries , are at higher risk of subsequent ischemic stroke ,” said Holly Elser , MD , PhD , lead author of the study and a neurology resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia . “ The findings underscore the importance of public health interventions to reduce the risk of head injury as well as measures aimed at stroke prevention among individuals with a prior head injury .”
TBIs can be mild , moderate or severe . The research team analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities ( ARIC ) Study of 12,813 adults from diverse U . S . communities who had not had a head injury or stroke when the study began in 1987 . After 30 years , 2,158 people had suffered a head injury ( 73 % of which were mild ), and of those with a head injury , 147 ultimately had an ischemic stroke .
Those who had a head injury had a 32 % increased risk of ischemic stroke , the most common type of stroke . They found the risk of stroke after a head injury was similar among men and women as well as different racial groups . Those who had two or more head injuries had a 94 % increased risk of ischemic stroke compared to those with no head injury .
Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in the vessels that supply blood to the brain . Prior research has suggested that TBIs might increase the risk of stroke by damaging tiny blood vessels in the brain , the cells lining those blood vessels , and the inner layer of arteries – all of which block or slow blood flow in the brain .
“ Our results emphasize the importance of measures that prevent head injury , like always wearing seatbelts in the car and wearing a helmet while biking ,” Dr . Elser said . “ Our results also suggest that measures to prevent stroke may be especially important in people who have suffered a head injury , which could include interventions like lowering blood pressure and cholesterol , increasing physical activity and smoking cessation .” g
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