These are surprising causes.
Conditions like migraines, blood clots in veins, liver or kidney issues, and certain cancers are not typically seen as primary contributors to stroke risk. However, a new study reveals that these lesser-known factors can more than double the chances of stroke in individuals under 50.
Dr. Jukka Putaala, who leads the stroke unit at Helsinki University Hospital in Finland, shared that researchers were especially surprised by the impact of migraines, noting that they appeared to be one of the most prominent stroke risk factors for younger adults.
The study, published April 17 in the journal Stroke, found that these non-traditional factors are particularly significant in people born with a congenital heart condition known as patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is a hole between the upper chambers of the heart.
Researchers examined data from over 1,000 Europeans aged 18 to 49. Roughly half had experienced an ischemic stroke — one caused by a blood clot — with no obvious underlying cause. The other half served as a control group with no history of stroke.
The study assessed 12 well-known stroke risk factors (such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and poor diet), along with 10 less-common contributors like migraines with aura, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and chronic liver or kidney disease. It also looked at five risk factors specific to women.
The findings revealed that for individuals without a PFO, each additional non-traditional risk factor raised the likelihood of stroke by 70%, compared to a 41% increase for each additional traditional risk factor. Among women without a heart defect, the influence of non-traditional risks remained strong, also raising stroke risk by 70%.
For those with a PFO, non-traditional risks were even more impactful — more than doubling their chances of having a stroke.
Dr. Tracey Madsen of the University of Vermont, who was not involved in the research, emphasized that identifying these under-recognized and gender-specific risk factors, such as migraine with aura or pregnancy-related complications, could lead to improved screening and patient education efforts, particularly for younger women.
Discussion about this post