In a study that was published in the journal Stroke, it was revealed that people experiencing problems with their memory and have received university education could have a higher risk of stroke.
According to the study, these people have 39 percent higher risk of stroke compared to others that have relatively lower levels of received education. This could be due to the erosion of the early defenses of these people against the problem of cognitive decline.
The study tracked about 9,000 people in Rotterdam, Netherlands, over a period of 20 years. All of the people had good health at ages of 55 years old and higher, and were asked in a questionnaire whether they were already having memory issues.
In 2012, among the 9,000 subjects, 1,134 had already suffered from strokes. An analysis of the data revealed that the people that had higher risk of stroke were those that had earlier indicated that they were experiencing lapses in their memory.
The risk of stroke was found to be even higher from the subjects that received higher levels of education, such as graduating from a university or receiving higher forms of vocational education.
Arfan Ikram, neuroepidemiology associate professor from Erasmus University, said that received education functions as a good indicator of the ability of the brain to ward off cognitive damage. This ability, which is known as cognitive reserve, is normally developed during childhood and the early stages of adulthood.
Ikram added that for people that have received high levels of education, the brain resists damage longer. However, if the same people begin to complain about memory issues, then it means that the cognitive reserve is gone.
"This can be an indicator they have reached an advanced stage, when the cognitive reserve is not compensating any more," Ikram said.
People suffer from a stroke when one of their blood vessels, which carry nutrients and oxygen to the brain, is blocked or bursts. When this occurs, there will be a portion of the brain that will not be receiving the oxygen and blood that it needs, causing brain cells to die.
According to the Stroke Association, the risk of stroke is increased by health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.
High stroke risks can be reduced by a variety of ways, including quitting smoking, maintaining a physically active body and living a healthy regimen.
Ikram added that people should always keep in mind to maintain the health of their brains, especially early on during the latter stages of life.
