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Stroke in young adults and children

B H Bendixen1, J Posner, R Lango

  • 1Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.

Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|March 20, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Stroke causes vary by age. In children, congenital heart disease and sickle cell disease are key factors. In young adults, dissection and cardioembolism are common, while older adults face traditional atherosclerotic risks.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Vascular Neurology

Background:

  • Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability globally.
  • While traditionally associated with older adults, stroke also affects children and young adults.
  • Understanding age-specific stroke etiologies is crucial for effective prevention and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize and identify the major causes of stroke in children and young adults.
  • To differentiate stroke etiologies across pediatric and young adult age demographics.
  • To highlight the impact of lifestyle choices and healthcare access on stroke in younger populations.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and summarization of data from studies involving 337 children and 1606 young adults.
  • Analysis of stroke causes stratified by age groups: under 15 years, 15-35 years, and over 35 years.
  • Inclusion of factors such as congenital heart disease, vasculopathies, infections, hematologic defects, dissection, cardioembolism, prothrombotic states, and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors.

Main Results:

  • In children (<15 years), stroke is linked to congenital heart disease, nonatherosclerotic vasculopathies, infection, and sickle cell disease.
  • In young adults (15-35 years), dissection, cardioembolism, nonatherosclerotic vasculopathies, and prothrombotic states are significant causes.
  • In adults (>35 years), traditional atherosclerotic risk factors are predominant.
  • Lifestyle choices (smoking, alcohol, drug use) increase stroke risk in young adults.
  • Limited healthcare access may exacerbate infectious disease and peripartum stroke complications.

Conclusions:

  • Stroke etiology in pediatric and young adult populations differs significantly from older adults.
  • Congenital and acquired conditions, alongside lifestyle factors, play a critical role in stroke among the young.
  • Targeted preventive strategies addressing age-specific risk factors are essential for reducing stroke incidence in all age groups.

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