Abstract: Stroke has traditionally been known as a disease of aging, with increased age recognized as one of the strongest nonmodifiable risk factors. However, emerging research suggests a shift in this paradigm: stroke incidence is rising among younger adults, even as rates are declining in older populations. Importantly, many younger adults do not present with traditional vascular risk factors, emphasizing the urgent need to reassess how stroke is identified and understood within this demographic. This paper explores chronic psychosocial stress as a key, underrecognized driver of stroke risk in younger adults. It examines how generational shifts, such as economic instability, digital saturation, and sustained psychosocial strain, have contributed to a baseline of chronic stress not observed in previous generations. With this evolving epidemiological trend, broader preventative measures are required that integrate biological, social, and social determinants to better identify and support at-risk younger adults.
Weiss et al. (Mon,) studied this question.