What age group saw an increase in stroke rates?

Adults aged 20 to 54 saw stroke rates nearly double, increasing from 33.9 cases per 100,000 person-years in 1993–1994 to 62.2 cases per 100,000 person-years in 2020.

Did marijuana use cause the rise in strokes?

The study found a correlation between rising stroke rates and increased substance use, primarily marijuana, which rose from 4.6% to 40.2%. However, experts note the study cannot prove that marijuana directly caused the increase.

Why Are More People Under 55 Having Strokes? New Research Points to Surprising Risk Factors

Q: Where was the stroke study conducted?

The research analyzed data across five counties in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region, covering a population of 1.4 million people.

While overall U.S. stroke incidence has declined due to public health prevention efforts, adults under 55 are experiencing strokes at a sharply rising rate. A study published on September 23, 2026, in the journal Neurology analyzed data from the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region covering a population of 1.4 million people and found that younger demographics face a nearly doubled stroke burden over a nearly three-decade span.

David Robinson, M.D., senior study author and assistant professor of clinical neurology and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, noted that while the overall number of people experiencing strokes is decreasing, the patients having them are getting younger. "Stroke is devastating at any age, but it is particularly challenging in younger people, since they are still in their prime working years and may have young families to care for," Robinson said.

What did the research find?

The study analyzed data across six time periods starting from July 1993 to June 1994, and calendar years 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, as reported by Inc. and Medical News Today. Researchers detected 2,076 first-ever strokes in adults aged 20 to 54.

According to Prevention, Medical News Today, and Yahoo Health, the stroke rate for younger adults increased from 33.9 cases per 100,000 person-years in 1993–1994 to 62.2 cases per 100,000 person-years in 2020. Conversely, the stroke rate in older adults declined from 618.8 cases per 100,000 person-years to 453.0 per 100,000 person-years over the same time frame. Ischemic strokes, which the CDC notes make up 87% of all strokes, rose among younger populations from 23.8 cases per 100,000 person-years to 47.3 cases per 100,000 person-years.

What risk factors are driving the increase?

Documented substance use among stroke patients rose from 4.6% in the early 1990s to 40.2% in 2020, a trend primarily driven by marijuana and cannabis use, according to findings cited by Mindbodygreen and Fox News.

Experts emphasize that the data shows correlation rather than direct causation. Walavan Sivakumar, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Providence Little Company of Mary in Torrance, California, noted that the findings do not necessarily prove marijuana causes strokes on its own. However, Sivakumar stated that combined with stimulant use like cocaine and methamphetamine, which have a much stronger and more established link to stroke, it represents a pattern worth taking seriously.

Other traditional vascular risk factors also became more prevalent. Christian Ferreira, M.D., a cerebrovascular surgeon and neuro-interventionist at Northwell’s Phelps Hospital, pointed out that hypertension, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation all became more common over the study period. Elizabeth Rosen, M.D., a neurologist at Tufts Medical Center, added that many of these stroke risk factors are silent, meaning individuals can feel completely healthy while having hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol.

What are the limitations of the study?

Experts note several important limitations in interpreting the findings. The study did not include comparable risk factors for people without strokes in the region, making it difficult to definitively isolate what drove the rising incidence, according to Fox News. Additionally, changes in medical documentation, diagnostic methods such as increased MRI use over the 27-year period, and greater disclosure of substance use may have partially affected the recorded figures. Furthermore, the data remain geographically limited to five counties in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region.

What happens next for researchers and clinicians?

Researchers plan to conduct further cohort studies examining patients and following them over many years to better understand the exact drivers behind rising stroke rates in younger populations. Future research will explore the specific roles of marijuana use, vaping, and atrial fibrillation in cardioembolic strokes. In clinical practice, doctors recommend increased screening for high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, alongside adherence to guidelines like the American Heart Association's "Life's Essential 8."

This is educational information, not legal, financial, tax, or investment advice.