University achievers over the age of 55 years who suffer from memory lapses are at an elevated risk of strokes.
Medical experts claim that people suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are at elevated risk of having stroke. Leading a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercising, avoiding alcohol and smoking, protects the brain. However, researchers believe that higher education is also responsible for strokes.
Researchers at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands, cite previous studies that indicate strokes may result in memory lapses. Arfan Ikram, associate professor of neuroepidemiology at the university, suggests that given the relation between stroke and memory loss, they started the latest research with the reverse question: if memory lapses causes stroke.
The study involved more than 9,000 participants, who were aged 55 years or older. As part of the Rotterdam Study that took place between 1990-1993 and 2000-2001, the participants were asked to complete a subjective memory lapse questionnaire. The participants also took a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
The study found that by 2012, 1,134 strokes occurred, which included 663 ischemic strokes, 99 hemorrhagic strokes and 372 strokes were unspecified.
The researchers suggest that those participants who complained of memory lapses were 39 percent more likely to get a stroke if they had completed university education.
Ikram explains that the research team investigated memory lapses in three groups, which included high education, medium education and low education. Researchers suggest that they categorized low education group with people who have had only primary education. The medium education group included people who had primary education and some higher education, lower to intermediate vocational training or regular secondary education. The high education group included university level education or high vocational education.
The study found that the association between memory lapses and strokes was greatest in the higher education group.
"If in future research we can confirm this, then I would like to assess whether people who complain about changes in their memory should be considered primary targets for further risk assessment and prevention of stroke," says Ikram.
The researchers suggest that the study applies to both women and men equally. The study pointed out that over 95 percent of the participants were Caucasians who lived in Rotterdam. The researchers also suggest that future studies may include racially diverse groups.
The study does not give strong evidence that links memory lapses to strokes. However, the researchers suggest that university achievers should take memory lapses as a warning sign.
