A Stroke of Bad Luck

An eight-year study of 1,800 adults ages 65 or older with no signs of dementia found that those who had a stroke before or during the investigation were 60% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Researchers don't know whether an unidentified process contributes to both strokes and Alzheimer's or if the damage of a stroke hastens the progression of dementia. In either case, reducing risk factors for strokes — like diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking — may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer's.