Young stroke victims in France

According to Inserm, 10 percent of stroke victims in France each year are under 45 years old, challenging the popular belief that strokes primarily affect the elderly. On the occasion of World Stroke Day, efforts are being made to understand why younger people are increasingly becoming victims, while the incidence is decreasing among the elderly.

Risk factors affecting younger people

Classic risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, obesity, overweight, and diabetes, are affecting an increasing number of younger people. However, this is not the only explanation.

A young stroke survivor's experience

During a weekend in Warsaw, Poland, Louis experienced a sudden inability to speak and saw everything in green from his right eye before collapsing. He was diagnosed with a stroke. A "clear increase" among the young has been noted, with Professor Charlotte Cordonnier, a neurologist at the Lille University Hospital and president of the French Neurovascular Society (SFNV), emphasizing that 10 percent may seem low but on a very high number of victims, it makes a lot, especially for a serious disease.

Rising stroke rates among the young

Professor Yannick Béjot, head of the neurology department at the Dijon Bourgogne University Hospital and vice president of the SFNV, notes that the probability of having a cerebral infarction has doubled among those under 50 years old between the 1980s and 2000. This increase is all the less trivial "since the increase has not been observed in the older age categories," notes Professor Béjot.

Changing hospitalization rates

Among people over 65 years old, the hospitalization rate for stroke has decreased by 2.4 percent among men and 2.2 percent among women between 2008 and 2019, according to Santé publique France. Among those under 65 years old, it has increased by 19.6 percent among men and 16.9 percent among women.

Risk factors and diagnosis

Rising hypertension and diabetes may partly explain the increase in strokes among the young, according to Professor Cordonnier. The improvement in diagnosis may explain part of the increase in strokes among the young, analyzes Professor Cordonnier. "When symptoms appear, we are more likely to perform an MRI than before," considers the neurologist. However, the increase in diagnosis does not explain everything.

Impact of substance use

The consumption of certain substances could also explain this increase. A study conducted by the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland shows that within 24 hours following use, cocaine consumption multiplies the risk of ischemic stroke by seven. Nearly 140,000 people consume cocaine each month in France, according to the latest figures from the OFDT, and young people aged 18 to 34 years represent the majority of this group.

E-cigarettes and pollution

"We are also raising questions about e-cigarettes," adds Professor Béjot. Recent studies conducted on animals show that a chemical used in some e-cigarettes could have an impact on the brain's arteries. Atmospheric pollution may also contribute to the increase in strokes. "Many scientific data show that exposure to air pollution increases the risk of stroke," notes the vice president of the SFNV.

Preventive measures

Pollution promotes atherosclerosis, a process that clogs the arteries. The head of the neurology department at the Dijon University Hospital is working on another study showing that heat peaks increase the risk of cerebral accidents. "80 to 90 percent of strokes would be avoidable if a dozen risk factors were addressed," supports Professor Béjot. The doctor advocates for check-ups starting at the age of 40 and, for women, at particularly risky times in life such as the beginning of contraception, after pregnancy, or menopause.

Recovery and advocacy

After his stroke, Louis was a victim of aphasia, a loss of the ability to speak. "I told myself I had to fight to relearn my mother tongue," says the 30-year-old. Since then, the 30-year-old has found a position as an HR assistant and is fighting to have this disorder recognized, which he overcomes through numerous sessions with a speech therapist. "I have given over a hundred conferences on the subject in Canada, Belgium, or Poland." His next project: creating a manga exhibition to raise awareness among young people about aphasia.