Sen. Chris Murphy’s stroke at age 53 highlights trend: Strokes among young adults have increased

This article was originally published on PolitiFact.

After U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a 53-year-old Democrat representing Connecticut, was hospitalized Oct. 31 following a stroke, his chief of staff said she was “optimistic” that he would make a full recovery.

Stroke rates are higher overall in older people, so a stroke at this age may seem surprising, but it has become more common.

WATCH: Senator Chris Murphy released from hospital after stroke

Stroke rates among adults aged 20 to 54 have increased over the past 30 years. Researchers found that the incidence rate of stroke among adults from 1993 to 1994 almost doubled in 2020, from 33.90 cases per 100,000 people to 62.18 cases. Stroke rates overall remain much higher among older adults, but the rate among older adults has declined over the same period.

When researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared stroke incidence data from 2011 to 2013 with those from 2020 to 2022, they found that the prevalence of stroke increased 14.6% among people 18 to 44 years old and 15.7% among people 45 to 64 years old.

There is no single explanation for this increase, but risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure and obesity, are also on the rise among young people.

A study in Florida found that between 2014 and 2022, young patients (aged 18 to 55) who suffered the most common form of stroke had an increasing number of vascular risk factors such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes or sleep apnea.

READ MORE: Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy is in the hospital after suffering a stroke, his office says

To reduce the risk of stroke, health professionals advise people to stop smoking and recreational drug use and to eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables. It is important to maintain an active lifestyle and manage conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.

High blood pressure significantly increases the risk of stroke, and some people may feel perfectly healthy even if they have hypertension, Dr. Elizabeth Rosen, a neurologist at Tufts Medical Center, told Prevention.

Seeing a health care provider regularly can help people identify stroke risk factors early, Dr. Aaron Shoskes, a neurologist at the University of Utah, said in April. A visit to a primary care doctor can reveal information about a person’s weight, family history of stroke and other health problems.

“Once we know those numbers, the next step is to work with a clinician to manage them,” Shoskes told the university. “Early intervention makes a big difference.”