A study found that stroke incidence among adults aged 20–54 in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region more than doubled between 1993–94 and 2020, rising from about 34 to 62 cases per 100,000 people annually. Researchers said the trend, driven mainly by ischemic strokes, is concerning because strokes can cause lasting disability and affect people’s ability to work or support their families.

The study linked the increase among younger adults with higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and documented substance use, which rose from 4.6% to 40.2%, mainly involving marijuana; however, it did not establish cause and effect. By contrast, stroke rates among older adults fell from about 619 to 453 per 100,000, while 30-day mortality among younger stroke patients declined from 11.7% to 9.4%, suggesting improved treatment, particularly for haemorrhagic strokes. Researchers stressed that the findings have limitations because the study did not compare risk-factor trends with people who had not suffered strokes.