Memory Complaints Tied to Stroke Risk Among Higher Educated Individuals
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Burlingham/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A new study indicates that highly educated individuals who complain of memory problems may have a higher incidence of stroke.
According to the study, published in the journal Stroke, researchers in the Netherlands looked at 9,152 participants aged 55 years old or older, and attempted to link memory complaints with stroke risk. Subject were divided into low, intermediate and high education. Researchers say those in the higher education category who had memory complaints were 39 percent more likely than those who did not report memory lapses to suffer a stroke.
The same link was not found in individuals in the intermediate or lower education groups.
Researchers say the link among higher educated participants persisted even when they adjusted for other risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, and cognitive test scores.
It is possible that the link is caused by the increased ability of those with more education to notice subtle changes in their memory.
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